Table of contents:
- Is it true that easy sweating is a symptom of HIV disease?
- Symptoms of HIV disease vary, depending on the stage
- How do you diagnose HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that weakens the immune system so that you are susceptible to disease.
Symptoms of HIV disease are generally not always detectable until you have an HIV test. However, some cases suggest that sweating easily, especially at night, can be a feature of HIV infection. Is that right?
Is it true that easy sweating is a symptom of HIV disease?
HIV itself doesn't make it easy for you to sweat. However, another disease that attacks after the body's immune system is weakened by HIV can cause symptoms of sweating, especially at night. However, there are also several things that cause you to sweat easily, including:
- Hormonal changes
- Diabetes
- Menopause
- Hyperthyroidism
- Sleep apnea or other sleep disorders
Night sweats in people with HIV are more common when the T cells (CD4) cells of people with early HIV symptoms fall below the 200 cells / mL mark. Sweat can appear during sleep and without any physical activity.
It is important to know that experiencing excessive sweating at night does not necessarily mean that you have HIV disease. To find out if you are HIV positive or not, it's a good idea to consult a doctor and do an HIV test.
Symptoms of HIV disease vary, depending on the stage
Symptoms of HIV disease vary depending on the stage of the disease you are experiencing. The following are the three stages of HIV disease and their general characteristics.
1. The first stage of HIV is known as acute or primary HIV infection, it is also called acute retroviral syndrome. During this stage, most people experience flu-like symptoms that can be difficult to tell whether the flu is caused by a respiratory infection or other condition.
2. The next phase is the clinical latency stage. The HIV virus at this stage becomes less active even though it is still present in the body of people with HIV. During this stage, the person does not experience any symptoms of infection, as viral infection takes place at very low levels. This latency phase of HIV can last more than 10 years. Many people do not show symptoms of HIV during this time.
3. The last stage of HIV is a stage that is already severe. During this stage, the immune system becomes severely damaged and is susceptible to opportunistic infections (infections that affect people with weakened immune systems). After developing, the symptoms of HIV can be seen clearly, for example:
- Nausea
- Gag
- Tiring easily
- Fever
- Symptoms associated with HIV itself, such as cognitive impairment that can affect how people with HIV think.
How do you diagnose HIV?
If you suspect that you sweat easily because of HIV disease or other causes, immediately see a doctor and don't delay.
The doctor will perform several tests. An HIV screening test is done to look for antibodies to the body against the virus. Antibodies are proteins that recognize and function to destroy harmful foreign substances or particles in the body such as viruses and bacteria.
The presence of certain antibodies usually indicates an infection in your body. Some of the tests that may detect signs of acute HIV infection include:
- P24 test, antigen blood test
- The test looks at the CD4 count and the HIV viral load test
- HIV antigen and antibody tests
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