HIV STAGES
1. Primary Infection (First weeks–months)
What happens:
- HIV enters the body
- Virus level goes very high
- CD4 cells drop quickly
How the person feels:
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, sore throat, tiredness)
- Some people feel sick, some don’t
This stage is also called Acute HIV syndrome
2.Clinical Latency (Feels Fine stage)
Time: Can last many years
What happens:
- Virus level becomes lower
- CD4 cells recover a bit but slowly decrease
- HIV is still in the body and active
How the person feels:
- Usually feels normal
- No clear symptoms
3.Falling CD4 Count
What happens:
- CD4 cells fall below 400–200
- Virus level starts to increase again
How the person feels:
- Infections become harder to fight
- Gets sick more often
4️. Final Crisis (AIDS stage)
What happens:
- CD4 cells are very low
- Virus level is very high
How the person feels:
Without treatment, this can lead to death
Serious infections
Weak immune system