Will AIDS increase body weight?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on June 27, 2025
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People infected with AIDS during the incubation period (asymptomatic period) will gain weight if they eat more and lack exercise. However, during the AIDS symptomatic stage, particularly in its advanced stages, their body weight generally declines significantly, often by more than 10%, so it is important to consider the specific circumstances. Once AIDS is definitively diagnosed, it is necessary to undergo scientific and rational treatment for HIV/AIDS. By addressing it early, significant damage to immune function can be prevented, allowing the body to gradually return to normal.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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How long does it take to know if you are infected with AIDS?

After being infected with the HIV virus, 50% to 70% of people will experience symptoms similar to a cold, such as fever, headache, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, occasional nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes, all occurring around half a month later. Of course, some people may not exhibit any symptoms at all. If symptoms do appear, they generally disappear within a month. At this time, it is necessary to conduct a screening test between the first and second month. If necessary, another screening test can be performed in the third month to determine whether there is an HIV infection.

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Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
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How is AIDS transmitted?

The HIV virus primarily exists in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions, ascitic fluid, and bodily fluids of infected persons. There are three main transmission pathways: sexual contact, blood products, and mother-to-child transmission, which include homosexual, heterosexual, and bisexual contact; sharing needles for intravenous drug use, invasive medical procedures, tattooing, as well as transmission from an HIV-positive mother through placental delivery and breastfeeding. Normal activities such as handshaking, hugging, polite kissing, sharing meals, and living together do not transmit the HIV virus.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What should I do if I am diagnosed with AIDS?

Once HIV is diagnosed, systematic and standardized antiretroviral therapy should be initiated. Once the infection is confirmed, it is crucial to start standardized antiretroviral treatment as early as possible, such as using antiviral drugs which can reduce the replication of HIV in the body; treatment can also be combined with protease inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, etc. By adhering to standardized long-term antiretroviral therapy, HIV can be effectively suppressed to undetectable levels, allowing immune function to gradually improve to near-normal status. This reduces the occurrence of opportunistic infections and gradually improves any that do occur, significantly reducing the incidence of certain tumors.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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AIDS diarrhea several times a day

After HIV-infected individuals enter the AIDS phase, due to the severe deficiency in human immune function, viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and malignant tumors can invade the human digestive system, leading to diarrhea. This diarrhea can occur 3-5 times daily, or even up to 10 times, and it can persist for more than one month.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is a red spot on the arm AIDS?

Red spots on the arm are not necessarily an indication of AIDS; they could be a rash, folliculitis, or other skin diseases. The symptoms of AIDS are not very typical and lack distinct features. It is not possible to diagnose AIDS based on external signs and clinical symptoms alone. To confirm or rule out AIDS, it is necessary to conduct an HIV antibody screening, and a negative result can exclude the infection.