How was it possible that HIV AIDS became such a severe problem? Are the economical implications higher for this one than they are for other types of diseases? What are the resemblances between HIV AIDS and other outbreak of infectious diseases? Is it possible that the scientists and the specialists can find a way to stop this calamity, which is slowly eating us, alive?



Right now these questions are still unanswered by the specialists and may remain such for quite sometime. What we can do as laymen is to get all the information we can gather about this disease for better understanding of its devastating effects and improving our preparedness for any eventuality.

It is of utmost importance for everyone to be ready and be kept well-informed so we can avoid this fatal disease from taking our future and life prematurely.

HIV goes through four stages. Two to six weeks after contracting the virus, the person can manifest symptoms like that of the flu and experience nausea, fever, night sweating, weakness, modified moods, headache, body malaise, etc. There are people who totally ignore the symptoms, or sometimes they do not manifest at all. For proper analysis of symptoms of the HIV AIDS, specific tests have to be done.

The second phase could be sluggish and can last up to several years. This is the period when the HI virus multiplies. Persons who are aware of their infection do not show any symptoms, but may be psychologically affected. People who are not aware of their infection do not show any physical signs.

The third phase ushers the patient towards the Aids Related Complex or ARC. The symptoms are not going away this time, but instead they will intensify and cause the patient to suffer the effects of acute infection and begin to experience changes in his/her general condition. Thus the patient progresses to the next phase of the infection.

The fourth and final phase of the infection is the dreaded AIDS stage. A host of other infections continues to attack the body, and succeeds with impunity. These are called opportunistic infections, which, under normal condition of the immune system could be easily controlled. Sadly, an HIV infected patient's ravaged immune system could no longer fight to protect the body against the otherwise normal pathogens.

A recent theory has been advanced lately, that is, not all patients infected with HIV will develop the disease. However, the theory has not been confirmed. At stages three and four of the HIV infection, any disease that the patient contracts can no longer be treated. The development of the disease can be retarded with medication until there is still some fight left in the immune system. When the immune system finally succumbs, this will immediately cause the death of the patient.