HIV Infection

Early HIV infection can cause a range of symptoms, which can be very similar to the flu or other common viral illnesses. These symptoms are sometimes called reconversion illness, or acute retro-viral syndrome. As many as 90% of those diagnosed with HIV will have experienced one or more of the following symptoms, usually within the first four weeks of initial exposure to the virus: fever, rash, headache, feeling generally unwell, aches and pains, mouth ulcers, sore throat, night sweats, weight loss, tiredness, swollen glands, and neurological symptoms like meningitis.

Symptoms typically appear a few days to a few weeks after exposure to HIV and can persists for two to four weeks, although swollen glands may last longer. After infection with HIV, it may be months before the body generates immune cells that can recognise HIV-infected cells or produces antibodies against HIV. The time at which antibodies to HIV appear is called reconversion. Before this time, an HIV antibody test will give a negative result.

In the UK, most sexual health clinics will use a kit which combines both tests, in order to ensure an accurate result. These are sometimes known as fourth-generation tests. If you are concerned that you may have recently been at risk of HIV infection, talk to a health professional about HIV testing. If the risk was in the last 72 hours, you and your doctor should also discuss whether a short-course of preventive HIV treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is appropriate for your situation.

Immunodeficiency syndrome and steroids

AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a chronic condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This life-threatening disease decreases the body's ability to fight off infections from viruses, bacteria and fungi, making the body more susceptible to cancer, pneumonia and other conditions like meningitis that the body normally fights effectively. Nearly 40 million people have AIDS worldwide. Signs of AIDS in men depend on the stage of the infection and the general health of the patient.

Men with AIDS frequently experience chronic or recurrent fevers as a symptom of the disease. A fever occurs when the immune system stimulates an increase in body temperature triggered by the presence of a foreign pathogen, such as a virus or bacterium, in the body. Men who develop fever symptoms may also experience chills or excessive sweating. Profuse sweating may occur most frequently during the night, which can cause men to wake up several times during the night with damp, moist or flushed skin.

Enlarged lymph nodes may appear as a symptom of AIDS in men. The lymph nodes are part of the immune system and help remove toxic substances from a person's blood. Men may notice the development of small, swollen, firm lumps within the neck, groin or beneath the armpits. Enlarged lymph nodes are typically painless, though certain men may notice that the affected node feels sensitive or tender to the touch.
Upset stomach symptoms may occur in men who have AIDS explains. These gastrointestinal symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, which can contribute to appetite loss and fatigue.

Anabolic Steroids refer to synthetic substances or compounds related to androgens, male sex hormones, which help in promotion of the anabolic (skeletal muscle) and androgenic (development of male sexual features) effects.

These steroids can be taken in many forms such as orally or through injections or nasal sprays. Some of the common oral steroids are Anadrol, Anavar, Dianabol, Nibil, Nilevar, Winstrol, and Maxibolin while some of the common injectable steroids are Deca-Durabolin, Drolban, Equipoise, Winstrol Depot, and Durabolin to name a few. It is generally seen that steroid users exhibit symptoms such as premature balding, acne, depression, rapid weight again, jaundice, and rapid muscle development. The abuse of steroids can be associated with higher risks for heart ailments such as attacks and strokes. Such an abuse can also lead to liver damages. Shared steroids, when taken in an injectable form, can lead to bacterial endocarditis, hepatitis B and C, and even HIV/AIDS. Apart from all these risks, steroids can cause many other undesirable body changes such as development of breast and shrinking of genitals in men, deepening of voice in women, and hair loss in both sexes.

When the human body experiences a build up of steroids, ailments such as kidney diseases, stunted growth, hypertension, diabetes, and blockage of insulin can be caused. Women steroid users can face ailments such as baldness, unnatural hair growth, and menstrual irregularities while men can witness breast enlargement, sterility, impotence, and shrinking of testicles.

Some of the other possible side-effects of steroid abuse are anxiety, depression, increased appetite, irregular hair growth, sexual problems, personality changes, sleeping troubles, mania, psychological dependence, decreased sperm production, increased libido, and fluid retention to name a few.