How long can the HIV virus lay dormant in the body, and during that time is it still possible to spread it?!
Question: How long can the HIV virus lay dormant in the body, and during that time is it still possible to spread it.?
Answers:
HIV often has no symptoms in the beginning, which is one reason why testing is so important. Although some people have flu-like symptoms soon after infection, not everyone does, and symptoms often do not show up until the immune system has been seriously damaged.
Initial testing for HIV involves testing to detect antibodies to the virus. Most people produce enough antibodies to be detected in tests within 3 months of the time of infection. In very rare cases, it could take up to 6 months for the antibodies to be detected in tests. A positive result on an antibody test is always confirmed by blood testing to detect the virus itself, and the level of the virus in the blood.
****YES, once you are infected, it IS possible to spread the virus to others, even if you do not yet show symptoms or test positive.
Health Question & Answer
Initial testing for HIV involves testing to detect antibodies to the virus. Most people produce enough antibodies to be detected in tests within 3 months of the time of infection. In very rare cases, it could take up to 6 months for the antibodies to be detected in tests. A positive result on an antibody test is always confirmed by blood testing to detect the virus itself, and the level of the virus in the blood.
****YES, once you are infected, it IS possible to spread the virus to others, even if you do not yet show symptoms or test positive.
Health Question & Answer
Unlike some other viruses, infection with HIV does not provide immunity against additional infections, particularly in the case of more genetically distant viruses. Both inter- and intra-clade multiple infections have been reported, and even associated with more rapid disease progression. Multiple infections are divided into two categories depending on the timing of the acquisition of the second strain. Coinfection refers to two strains that appear to have been acquired at the same time (or too close to distinguish). Reinfection (or superinfection) is infection with a second strain at a measurable time after the first. Both forms of dual infection have been reported for HIV in both acute and chronic infection around the world.
Infection with HIV-1 is associated with a progressive decrease of the CD4+ T cell count and an increase in viral load. The stage of infection can be determined by measuring the patient's CD4+ T cell count, and the level of HIV in the blood.
HIV infection has basically four stages: incubation period, acute infection, latency stage and AIDS. The initial incubation period upon infection is asymptomatic and usually lasts between two and four weeks. The second stage, acute infection, which lasts an average of 28 days and can include symptoms such as fever, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), pharyngitis (sore throat), rash, myalgia (muscle pain), malaise, and mouth and esophageal sores. The latency stage, which occurs third, shows few or no symptoms and can last anywhere from two weeks to twenty years and beyond. AIDS, the fourth and final stage of HIV infection shows as symptoms of various opportunistic infections.
It is really difficult to say how long the HIV virus remains dormant. Several factors influence the activity of the virus. See your doctorHealth Question & Answer
Infection with HIV-1 is associated with a progressive decrease of the CD4+ T cell count and an increase in viral load. The stage of infection can be determined by measuring the patient's CD4+ T cell count, and the level of HIV in the blood.
HIV infection has basically four stages: incubation period, acute infection, latency stage and AIDS. The initial incubation period upon infection is asymptomatic and usually lasts between two and four weeks. The second stage, acute infection, which lasts an average of 28 days and can include symptoms such as fever, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), pharyngitis (sore throat), rash, myalgia (muscle pain), malaise, and mouth and esophageal sores. The latency stage, which occurs third, shows few or no symptoms and can last anywhere from two weeks to twenty years and beyond. AIDS, the fourth and final stage of HIV infection shows as symptoms of various opportunistic infections.
It is really difficult to say how long the HIV virus remains dormant. Several factors influence the activity of the virus. See your doctorHealth Question & Answer