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Asymptomatic HIV infection

Definition

Asymptomatic HIV infection is the second stage of HIV/AIDS. During this stage, there are no symptoms of HIV infection. This stage is also called chronic HIV infection or clinical latency.

During this stage, the virus keeps multiplying in the body and the immune system slowly weakens, but the person has no symptoms. How long this stage lasts depends on how quickly the HIV virus copies itself, and how the person's genes affect the way the body handles the virus.

Some people may have symptoms and worsening immune function within a few years after the original infection. Others can go 10 years or longer without symptoms.

Gallery

Asymptomatic HIV infection
Asymptomatic HIV infection is characterized by a period of varying length in which there is slow deterioration of the immune system without clinical symptoms.

References

Reitz MS, Gallo RC. Human immunodeficiency viruses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 169.

US Department of Health and Human Services website. HIV basics: overview about HIV & AIDS: what are HIV and AIDS?www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids. Updated June 5, 2020. Accessed August 5, 2021.

Last reviewed July 20, 2021 by Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

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