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Evolution

When the virus enters the body, it first affects lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell ), specifically CD4 T cells , also known as T4 cells, and macrophages , which are another type of white blood cell , as well as other cells of the same origin. Other cells in the body that are also infected include neurons and glial cells ( brain cells ).

Infection occurs in the following ways: 

• On the surface of CD4 cells, there is a membrane receptor made of protein, for specialists gp120. The CD4 cell is called target cell.
• After a few days, the virus begins to multiply. From that moment on, it becomes detectable in the blood, approximately from the 10nd day. It is also from this moment that the antibody of the body begin to play their role.
• The analyses, when they are practiced from the 20nd day, show that antibodies anti HIV therefore become detectable in the patient's blood, until the end of the third month following contamination. These antibodies do not have the ability to destroy the virus. A person is called HIV-positive when they are infected with the HIV virus, which is the case in 5 out of 10 people.
• Symptoms appear between the 5th day and the 1st month. Depending on the contamination, the symptoms are:
  • An increase in temperature (fever).
  • A angina.
  • Body aches.
  • A skin rash, that is, the appearance of spots.
  • A meningitis.
  • Facial paralysis.

After this first phase, the second phase appears, called the secondary phase of chronic infections. For several years, this second phase of chronic infections is characterized by the multiplication of the virus, particularly within the lymph nodes.

The second phase of chronic infections is the appearance of symptoms , which are usually mild when the patient presents with symptoms at all. These are minor signs. They indicate a relatively mild infection, reflecting the fact that the immune system is only slightly affected.

These symptoms are primarily skin infections or infections of the mucous membranes (the layer of cells lining the inside of hollow organs in contact with air). Other infections may be viral or fungal , but these are not necessarily specific features of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

From this point on, the patient with AIDS will suffer from oral candidiasis , or candidiasis of the anus and genitals . Other symptoms may appear, such as seborrheic dermatitis of the face, folliculitis with prurigo or shingles , or even warts . Generally, during the secondary phase of chronic infections, a patient will present with general signs, such as:

• A change in general condition.
• A fever very important and lasting.
• The sweats.
• Un weight loss.
• A diarrhea which persists.

The third stage of AIDS that can occur is the form most familiar to the general public. This stage is called full-blown AIDS . Full-blown AIDS occurs in individuals suffering from severe immunosuppression . This means that the immune system, that is, the body's defense system, is particularly weakened . During full-blown AIDS, the disease can progress in three directions. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between:

• The fast progressors which quickly progresses to AIDS in three to four years.
• The classical progressives.
• The long-term non-progressors which correspond to approximately 5% of the population that is infected. The major characteristic of long-term non-progressors is the following: AIDS only appears after 10 years later contamination provided there has been no treatment.

In the course of active AIDS, opportunistic infections become prevalent. These infections result from the entry into the body of microorganisms, such as viruses , bacteria , microscopic fungi , or parasites . They are called opportunistic because they take advantage of the weakened immune system to develop within the patient's body. These infections result either from recent contamination or from the reactivation of a pathogen , specifically a virus or parasite responsible, for example, for toxoplasmosis.

In fact, outside of a viral infection, toxoplasmosis lies dormant within the body. During full-blown AIDS, the immune system is so weakened that toxoplasmosis awakens. 

The other characteristic of declared AIDS is the appearance of characteristic tumors such as Kaposi's sarcoma and malignant lymphomas.

Regarding parasitic infections, aside from toxoplasmosis, Pneumocystis carinii infection is possible . This causes severe lung damage that sometimes leads to respiratory failure . Other parasitic infections that may occur are those of the digestive tract: microsporidiosis and cryptosporidiosis , which cause diarrhea and a decline in general health.

Other complications that may occur during full-blown AIDS are:

• The viral infections, which are the result of reactivation of viruses present in a latent state in the body. These viruses are those of the varicella and area.
• Le parvo virus is also responsible for a progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis which corresponds to a severe form of encephalitis.

The fungal infections, that is, infections by champignons, are the result of Candida albicans. It relates to l'esophagus, causing the pressure of pain when the patient swallows.
The bacterial infections are essentially mycobacteria and above all the Koch's bacillus responsible for the TBOther mycobacteria can attack the brain.
Le Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common disease occurring during the course of declared AIDS. It primarily affects homosexual patients, but also others. Kaposi's sarcoma is characterized by the appearance of flat, purple lesions that are painless. Kaposi's sarcoma can also be located in the viscera, especially when the patient has major immunodepression.
The last types of injury that may occur are: malignant lymphomas, which are the result of a proliferation cancerous precursors of lymphocytes, that is to say the T and B lymphoblasts.