AIDS Infections and Disease Progression

HIV infections and disease progression in Humans

• The course of HIV infection and disease progression may span for a decade.
• Stages of HIV infections include:

1. Primary infection
2. Dissemination of virus to lymphoid organs
3. Clinical latency
4. Induction of HIV expression
5. Clinical disease
6. Death

• The duration between primary infection and progression to clinical disease averages about 10 years.
• Death usually occurs within 2 years after the onset of clinical symptoms.
• Following primary infection, viral replication occurs and the virus in blood (viremia) is detectable for about 8-12 weeks.
• Virus is widely disseminated throughout the body during this time, and the lymphoid organs become affected.