Seroconversion refers to the development of antibodies to HIV and usually takes place between one and two months after an infection has occurred ( see question 32).ĭespite the fact that HIV infection often does not cause any symptoms, a person newly infected with HIV is infectious and can transmit the virus to another person ( see question 7). Immediately after the infection, some people have a glandular fever-like illness (with fever, rash, joint pains and enlarged lymph nodes), which can occur at the time of seroconversion. Most people infected with HIV do not know that they have become infected. The level of immunodeficiency or the appearance of certain infections are used as indicators that HIV infection has progressed to AIDS (see question 4). Infection with HIV has been established as the underlying cause of AIDS. Diseases associated with severe immunodeficiency are known as opportunistic infections because they take advantage of a weakened immune system.ĪIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and describes the collection of symptoms and infections associated with acquired deficiency of the immune system. People with immunodeficiency are much more vulnerable to a wide range of infections and cancers, most of which are rare among people without immunodeficiency. The immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer fulfil its role of fighting off infection and diseases. Infection with this virus results in the progressive depletion of the immune system, leading to immunodeficiency. HIV is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system (mainly CD4-positive T-cells and macrophages-key components of the cellular immune system) and destroys or impairs their function. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.
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