| As the HIV virus continues to multiply in the host's | | | | 6. Excessive weight loss which is not deliberately |
| body it destroys the person's immunity completely | | | | achieved through increased physical exercises or |
| and makes him prone to attacks by not only very | | | | through dieting |
| serious debilitating diseases, but very mild infections | | | | 7. Severe persistent headache |
| as well. | | | | 8. The presence of a slightly purple or faded growth |
| The count of the helper T cells (CD4 lymphocytes), | | | | over the skin or inside the mouth is very common |
| which are typically in the range of 600 to 1,000, drop | | | | among HIV positive patients. |
| below 200 after which the person begins to show | | | | 9. HIV positive children's growth is poor, usually |
| other serious signs of the disease. With the person's | | | | characterized by poor weight gain, trouble in walking, |
| immunity system completely damaged, he becomes | | | | and slow mental development. Such children are also |
| easily susceptible to opportunistic infections and may | | | | very susceptible to infections such as those relating |
| frequently experience the more serious symptoms of | | | | to the ear, nose and throat like ear infection (otitis |
| AIDS such as the following: | | | | media), pneumonia or tonsillitis. They are also easily |
| 1. Severe fatigue | | | | prone to more bruising and bleeding than their healthy |
| 2. Soaking night sweats and high fever is very | | | | and normal counterparts. |
| common among HIV positive patients. | | | | 10. Apart from these physiological symptoms, it is |
| 3. Frequent episodes of chronic diarrhea | | | | also very common to find certain mental and |
| 4. Shortness of breath is very commonly experienced | | | | behavioral disorders such as personality changes, |
| by HIV positive patients. | | | | deterioration of cognitive abilities of a person and |
| 5. Swelling and hardening of lymph nodes which | | | | degenerated memory in HIV positive patients. |
| persists for more than three months | | | | |