HIV Symptoms: Early Signs, Five Stages & Long-Term Effects

What are the first symptoms of HIV infection and how long do they take to start? From acute weight loss to mouth symptoms, understanding the five stages of HIV is vital for long-term health management.

Aids awareness ribbon pinned on to jeans

Social Effects of HIV & AIDS

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Annette F. Brown

For the more than 1 million Americans living with HIV, the social effects of this diagnosis can be distressing and disruptive. Infection with HIV can lead to AIDS, if left untreated. Prior to the introduction of combination antiviral therapy in the mid-1990s, an HIV diagnosis was more intimidating and life-threatening.