Okay, this is going to be a several parter, as I'm delving quite deeply into what is happening in several organs and the body as a whole to cause symptoms. Forgive the variety in assumed knowledge, b/c I'm not quite certain how much I need to go into the basics. This first post will be quite basic. Clear as mud?And it begins!
General AIDS facts:
- Transmitted through blood, sex, and blood products
- Usually targets immune cells called T cells that have a specific protein called CD4 present, although it can infect other types of cells
- Two types of the virus exist, HIV-1 and HIV-2
- The type of virus is the retrovirus, lentivirus sub-family.
- Four stages of AIDS:
Initial Infection: Mono like illness with fever
Asymptomatic Infection
Asymptomatic Infection with Swollen Lymph Nodes
AIDS - fever, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, neurological symptoms, and a poor immune system
Basic Hematological changes in AIDS:
- Low platelet count - platelets make up the clot when you stop bleeding. So when you don't have many, you bleed longer, and bruise easier. Sometimes you can bleed from the nose or gums.
- Bone marrow changes - Your bone marrow stores the cells that make new cells to maintain your immune system. AIDS can change these momma cells, either to make your immune system ineffective, or to slow down the rate at which they reproduce.
- Low neutrophil count - Neutrophils are some of the cells in the blood that play important roles in the body's immune by fighting off infection. Low numbers of these mean you catch infections easier.
- Anemia - ie a low red blood cell count. If you don't have many red blood cells, you don't get the oxygen you need to your body as easily. This can make you tired, short of breath, dizzy, pale, or insomniacic, among other things.
Next post I'm going to look further into why the above happen. Look for Subject: AIDS, Hematological Changes
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