How long does HIV infection last? know from the stage of the disease

Do you know how long the HIV infection lasts? HIV infection usually does not cause serious symptoms right away. The existence of a period of HIV infection will consist of several stages characterized by different severity of symptoms.

In the early days of infection, HIV may not be detected in testing. This condition is also known as the window period or period (window period of HIV). So, how long is the window of HIV until a viral infection can be detected?

Understanding the HIV window period

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are known to cause dangerous infections by attacking the immune system.

The period or period of the HIV window (window period of HIV) is the time it takes for the virus to form antibodies in the blood until a viral infection is detected in the body.

It is important to know the HIV window period to determine the right time for testing so that an accurate HIV diagnosis result can be obtained.

Typically, the HIV window period lasts 10 days to 3 months from initial exposure until it can be detected by an HIV test.

How long this window period will be depends on the type of HIV test you are undergoing.

The reason is, each HIV test has a different sensitivity level in detecting the virus.

This is influenced by how long the HIV infection lasts.

Take, for example, the rapid antibody test which has a 3 month window period (window period of HIV). This means that the test can detect antibodies to the virus after 3 months of HIV infection.

Meanwhile, the results of the HIV test from the combination of the antigen and the RNA test have a shorter HIV window period.

The combination test can detect the presence of antibodies after 20-45 days of initial infection, whereas in the RNA test accurate results can be obtained after 10-14 days of the first infection.

How long does HIV infection last?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a type of virus that attacks CD4 cells in the immune system.

CD4 cells or also known as T cells are a type of white blood cell that functions to protect the body from infection.

When talking about how long it takes for HIV to start triggering an infection in the body, the general answer is approximately 72 hours after first exposure.

However, once infected with HIV, the body does not immediately respond to the virus by causing symptoms.

In general, you will experience the virus incubation period first.

How long does HIV infection actually start from the incubation period in one virus life cycle which lasts for 7 stages.

According to the National Institute of Health and HIV.gov, the seven stages in the HIV virus life cycle include:

1. Binding (sticking)

The initial phase of the HIV virus life cycle begins with an incubation period or a period when the virus is not yet actively multiplying and damaging cells in the immune system.

During this phase, the HIV virus will attach to the receptors and form bonds on the surface of CD4 cells.

How long the HIV infection in this initial phase is actually no more than 30 minutes. Thirty minutes is the length of the CD4 cell's lifespan.

2. Merger

After attaching to the receptors on the surface of the host cell, the virus will then fuse.

During the virus incubation period, the HIV virus envelope (envelope) and the CD4 cell membrane combine and the HIV virus enters the CD4 cells.

How long does HIV infection at this stage usually take until the virus releases its genetic material such as RNA into the host cell.

3. Reverse transcription

The period of HIV infection in the combining phase will be finished after following how long the process takes reverse transcription.

Phase reverse transcription still included in the HIV virus incubation period.

In CD4 cells, HIV releases and uses reverse transcriptase in which enzymes from HIV convert genetic material called HIV RNA into HIV DNA.

The length of time of HIV infection which involves changing from HIV RNA to HIV DNA will end when HIV enters the nucleus of CD4 cells.

HIV infection is then combined with the cell's genetic material called cell DNA.

4. Unification (integration)

The HIV incubation period will continue until the time of integration.

The stopping of the incubation period for the HIV virus in the nucleus of CD4 cells is indicated when HIV produces an enzyme called integrase.

This enzyme combines viral DNA into DNA from CD4 cells called provirus.

How long the duration of HIV infection in the proviral phase cannot be determined because provirus has not been actively producing new HIV viruses for the next few years.

5. Replication

Once it unites with CD4 cell DNA and actively replicates, HIV begins to use CD4 to produce long chains of proteins.

The HIV protein chain is the building block for the virus to replicate to form other HIV viruses.

The duration of HIV infection in the replication phase will last until the assembly stage.

6. Assembly

How long the HIV infection lasts in the assembly phase is determined when the long chain of HIV proteins breaks into smaller protein sizes.

HIV infection subsequently shows the new HIV protein along with HIV RNA moving to the cell surface and becoming immature (non-infectious) HIV.

7. Sprout

New and immature HIV penetrates CD4 cells. The new HIV produces an HIV enzyme called a protease.

Proteases play a role in breaking down the long chains of proteins that make up immature viruses.

The smaller HIV proteins combine to form mature HIV.

The period of HIV infection in this budding period lasts until the new HIV virus can infect other cells.

The development of HIV infection according to the stage of the disease

The stages of the disease generally reflect how long the HIV infection lasts in the body.

Each stage indicates the development of a viral infection followed by the appearance of different HIV symptoms, namely:

1. Early stage HIV (acute infection)

Early stage HIV is a condition also known as acute intermediate HIV infection 2-4 weeks after the initial infection.

Viral reproduction occurs rapidly and uncontrollably in the early weeks when you contract HIV.

That's why in the early stages, the bodies of people infected with HIV usually contain viral load Lots of HIV.

Regardless of how long the HIV infection has lasted during this stage, it is very easy for you to pass the HIV virus on to other people at any time.

2.Clinical latency stage (chronic HIV infection)

After the early stages of HIV infection, the virus will remain active in the body but will not show symptoms or have only mild symptoms.

This stage is also called the asymptomatic stage which means without symptoms.

According to HIV.gov, chronic HIV infection at the clinical latent stage or chronic HIV can last for 10 to 15 years.

Even without symptoms, the HIV virus is increasingly attacking immune cells to develop further complications.

3. Advanced HIV (AIDS)

The advanced stage of HIV is the peak where the immune system is weakened or completely damaged by the HIV virus.

In this phase, people living with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) have viral load tall one.

At an advanced stage of HIV, the CD4 count has dropped dramatically to below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.

Normally, a CD4 count is around 500 to 1,600 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.

The period of HIV infection during the late stages usually lasts the least 10 years or so to develop opportunistic infections if left untreated.

Opportunistic infections are a form of complication of HIV that is caused by fungi or bacteria taking advantage of a weakened immune system.

This condition indicates that HIV has developed into AIDS.

Controlling HIV / AIDS with ARV drugs at every stage is very important to maintain the quality of life for patients.

In addition to inhibiting the duration of HIV infection, HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

By understanding more deeply about how long the HIV infection lasts, you can find out when it is best to take an HIV test or undergo treatment.

If you are a person at risk, such as having sexual intercourse or sharing needles with an infected person, immediately consult a doctor for proper treatment.