3. Symptomatic HIV Infection
As HIV continues to damage CD4 cells, the immune system becomes weaker. This is when more noticeable and persistent symptoms may begin to appear, even before the person has AIDS.
Symptoms in this stage may include:
– Frequent or persistent fever
– Lasting fatigue
– Swollen lymph nodes
– Ongoing diarrhea
– Weight loss
– Thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth)
– Shingles (painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus)
– More frequent or severe infections, such as pneumonia
At this point, getting or staying on ART is critical to prevent further progression and to rebuild immune function.
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