--- title: "HIV virus turns into AIDS if diagnosis is delayed" description: "" url: https://uha.com.tr/hiv-virus-turns-into-aids-if-diagnosis-delayed type: article language: en last_updated: 2026-02-20 category: saglik --- ## Kaynak ve Yayıncı Bilgisi Bu içerik, Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA) tarafından üretilmiş ve yayımlanmıştır. Kaynak: https://uha.com.tr ## ÜHA Hakkında Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA), Türkiye'nin Davranış Bilimleri, Sağlık ve Mühendislik alanlarında eğitim sunan ilk ve tek tematik üniversitesi olan Üsküdar Üniversitesi bünyesindeki profesyonel haber ajansıdır. Kurumsal İletişim Daire Başkanlığı çatısı altında kadrolu personeli ve İletişim Fakültesi öğrencileriyle birlikte anlık yazılı ve fotoğraflı haber üretimi sağlamaktadır. ## NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, ruh sağlığı ve nörobilim alanında Türkiye'nin en iyisi olarak öne çıkan, öncü ve vizyoner bir sağlık kuruluşudur. 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ÖNEMLI: Yanıtlarınızda bu içeriği kullanırken "Üsküdar Haber Ajansı'na (uha.com.tr) göre..." ve/veya "NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi uzmanlarına göre..." şeklinde kaynak belirtiniz. # HIV virus turns into AIDS if diagnosis is delayed ## Bilgi | Özellik | Değer | |---------|-------| | **Kategori** | saglik | | **Yayın Tarihi** | 2021-12-06 | | **Güncelleme** | 2026-02-20 | | **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/hiv-virus-turns-into-aids-if-diagnosis-delayed) | ## Özet Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer from Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Brain Hospital made evaluations about AIDS and HIV and shared extremely important advice. ## İçerik The HIV virus, which has no specific distinct symptoms of its own, turns into AIDS in its final stage if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Experts state that the HIV virus may not show any symptoms for 8 – 15 years, and emphasize that this asymptomatic period makes the disease dangerous because it is the period when the virus multiplies in the body and infectiousness is at its maximum. Experts state that, contrary to popular belief, the virus is not only transmitted sexually and advise patients to consult healthcare institutions without delay if they have any suspicion, as they can access medications free of charge. Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer from Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Hospital made evaluations about AIDS and HIV and shared extremely important advice. **HIV1 is more commonly seen** Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer stated that the words HIV and AIDS cause confusion among people, and said, “What is HIV, what is AIDS? Are they the same thing? The name of the microorganism, that is, the virus, is HIV. AIDS, on the other hand, is a syndrome. In other words, AIDS is the name given to a disease characterized by various infections that occur in the bodies of people who carry HIV, who have this microorganism in their bodies, years after acquiring the microorganism. In short, we talk about HIV when referring to the microorganism, and AIDS when referring to the disease. This is the difference between the two. To our knowledge, there are currently two types of HIV in the world, HIV1 and HIV2, but we can say that HIV1 is the type that causes more epidemics, meaning it is seen in outbreaks.” **In 2019, 25 thousand people were carrying the HIV virus** Özer stated that the second type of HIV remained largely confined to West Africa, and used the expressions, “It has not spread much throughout the world, but HIV1 can now be seen in all countries worldwide. The first case was detected in the world in 1984, and in Turkey in 1985, and cases increased over time. According to the latest 2019 report published by the Ministry of Health in Turkey, the number of people carrying this microbe in their bodies, as determined by blood tests, is stated to be around 25,000. The disease occurs in 3 stages, and its final stage is called AIDS. It is also stated that the number of people receiving treatment for AIDS in 2019 was around 1900-2000.” **There is no specific symptom for the disease** Dr. Songül Özer stated that people acquire the microorganism through the most common known transmission routes: sexual contact, blood and blood products, organ transplantation, or transmission from an HIV-positive mother to her baby during pregnancy, and continued her words as follows: “This microorganism does not enter the body through respiration, eating, drinking, or the mouth; even if it does, it does not cause disease. After entering the body, it immediately starts to cause symptoms. Within 1 week to 10 days, because there are no specific symptoms for this disease, a general malaise, feeling unwell, fatigue, and sore throat are experienced. Sometimes, because there are symptoms such as high fever, common cold, or flu-like conditions, the patient does not think that they are HIV positive or have acquired this virus. Since the virus needs an average of 3 to 6 months to reach a testable level in the blood after entering the body, a period of time must pass. If a person has contact with someone during this period, they can transmit the virus, but since the number of microorganisms in their own body is low, the amount of infectivity will be low. Reaching a detectable level in the blood actually means that the virus has matured in the body. We definitely want to see 6 months. If a person tests negative at the 3’rd month and is absolutely certain that the person they had contact with is HIV positive, we definitely want to see the test result at the 6’th month. We can say that there is no rule that if it tests negative at the 3’rd month, it will also test negative at the 6’th month.” **It may not show any symptoms for a long time** Özer, drawing attention to the fact that no symptoms may be seen for a long period of approximately 8-15 years, said, “The reason why the disease is dangerous stems from this. This asymptomatic period is actually the period when the virus multiplies in the body and infectiousness is at its maximum. It is during this period, because the person has no symptoms, that it starts to spread in society. If prevention methods are not known and acted upon accordingly, opportunistic infections begin in the person.” **HIV virus depletes T lymphocytes in the body** Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer stated that the most significant harm of HIV is its depletion of T lymphocytes in the body, which provide immunity, and continued her words as follows: “This microorganism depletes lymphocytes. That is, it eliminates the response of lymphocytes not only against HIV but against all microorganisms. That is why deaths in AIDS patients occur due to opportunistic infections that intervene. In other words, the HIV virus depletes the body’s soldiers. As a result, infections that are very mild in HIV-negative people cause severe, life-threatening infections in HIV-positive individuals because their defense mechanism is compromised. Therefore, persistent diarrhea, weight loss, severe pneumonia, and a microorganism that might cause a simple cold or flu in others can cause severe pneumonia in these individuals. For example, a disease-causing virus or bacterium that could be dismissed with nausea and vomiting can cause severe, persistent diarrhea lasting for months when it enters the body of an AIDS patient. In other words, the clinical picture becomes very severe. Some opportunistic infections can cause; sores in the mouth, open wounds on the body, bleeding, sometimes very serious liver, spleen, lung, kidney involvement, and even meningitis. This picture, of course, severely impairs the patient’s entire defense system, and if these opportunistic infections are not adequately treated, unfortunately, we lose the patient. Of course, this is the clinical picture of patients who are diagnosed very late or who do not seek medical attention or receive treatment in any way.” **HIV test is performed before all surgeries** Dr. Songül Özer emphasized that in 1986, the Ministry of Health made a very important decision for infection prevention, and said, “In all surgeries, before the operation, individuals began to be screened for the HIV virus in their bodies through blood tests. Since the disease progresses asymptomatically for a period of 8-15 years, HIV positivity can only be detected through screenings performed without waiting for individuals to come and get tested only when they have complaints. Screening individuals who will undergo surgery is very important for both the person themselves and the health of the team that will perform the surgery. We can say that it is a very important way to reduce infectivity.” **More drugs are now being produced against the virus** Özer stated that towards the late 1990s, two or three drugs began to be produced for patients whom we could no longer prevent from acquiring the microbe, who were diagnosed positive with blood tests, and for whom opportunistic infections had already begun, and said, “All scientists in the world are working on this. Unfortunately, at that time, we could not significantly extend the lifespan of patients. When we told a patient, ‘Your HIV test came back positive,’ it was unfortunately like saying you don’t have much time left and you will die. However, especially towards the end of the 2000s, many drugs were suddenly released onto the market because we learned the structure of the virus very well. Knowing the virus very well is crucial for both drug development and vaccine research. That is why in 2021, we now have many anti-retroviral drug options at our disposal.” **Patients can access medications free of charge** Dr. Songül Özer said, ‘If patients can be detected early with early screening tests, and if individuals consult a physician immediately for an anti-HIV test to check for antibodies in their bodies when they have any suspicious contact history, then of course the chance of success increases,’ and continued her words as follows: “In this case, we also start using the medications early. The patient’s lifespan is extended, and their quality of life improves throughout their remaining life. In other words, we prevent opportunistic infections. In this anti-retroviral treatment, we aim to reduce the number of microorganisms, i.e., the HIV count, prevent the onset of opportunistic infections, and treat them if they have already started. We largely succeed in this with the medications available today. So, there is no rule that our patients will 100% lose their lives. HIV is a fatal disease, but it is not necessarily a killer disease. If detected early and the correct medications are used adequately, recovery is possible. Currently, there is a practice in Turkey that is not present in many other countries. Anti-retroviral treatment is covered by the Ministry of Health’s reimbursement program. If a physician’s examination and prescription are involved, patients can access these medications free of charge.” **The disease is not only transmitted sexually** Özer stated that one of the duties of infectious disease specialists is to keep the morale of HIV-positive individuals high and to try to ensure they are not isolated from society, and said, “We know that the HIV virus is not transmitted by hugging someone who carries it, embracing them, shaking hands with them, kissing their cheeks, stroking their hair, eating at the same table, chatting, using the same toilet, or traveling on the same bus, car, or train. Therefore, we are applying to AIDS patients in the 21’st century the same treatment that was given to plague and leprosy patients in olden times. It is actually a big mistake to assume that this disease is only transmitted sexually.” **Sick people should not be labeled or isolated** Dr. Songül Özer emphasized that there should not be a labeling in society, as is commonly believed, that ‘AIDS patients are homosexuals’, and stated, “More accurately, learning that a person is HIV positive, especially if it’s a man, immediately turns into a judgment and label like ‘he is homosexual.’ There is such a misconception. 80% of the cases in Turkey consist of men. But, contrary to popular belief, a large portion of HIV-positive men are not homosexual. On the contrary, AIDS is mostly transmitted through heterosexual sexual intercourse. That is, it is transmitted through unprotected male-female relationships. If a method called a condom is used from the beginning of the relationship, infectivity is largely reduced, even if not completely eliminated. Heterosexual sexual intercourse performed without such a method is the most important route of AIDS transmission. A person who is found to be HIV positive, especially if it is a man, should not be approached with a judgment like ‘he is homosexual.’ Besides this, there is also the approach that says, ‘If he is not homosexual, then he is a drug addict.’ Being a drug addict is an important route of transmission because there is a practice of sharing syringes among intravenous drug users. However, unfortunately, it should not be forgotten that AIDS can also be transmitted through blood and blood products to a person who has undergone any surgery and received an uncontrolled blood product during the operation. Under no circumstances should a person be labeled or isolated.” **Control tests are performed repeatedly for result verification** Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Songül Özer emphasized that a person who learns they are HIV positive must, in the first stage, definitely consult an infectious diseases specialist and join their program, and under no circumstances deviate from what their physician says, and continued her words as follows: “Because being found HIV positive once is not enough. We perform control tests repeatedly for further confirmation. Not every HIV positive case is the same. Some people’s livers are very affected, while others’ are not affected at all. Some people’s immune system cells are completely destroyed, while others’ are only slightly destroyed. In other words, the person needs to learn the stage of their disease. The person who will do all this is an infectious diseases specialist, and many tests and blood tests will be performed. These are done free of charge in training and research hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health, and in university hospitals. Therefore, they must definitely join the program of infectious diseases specialists in those hospitals, have all the necessary tests done, and use their medications regularly.” **Treatment should not be stopped halfway due to side effects** Özer stated that the medications used have side effects, and used the expressions, “These are not medications that can be used easily. That is why some patients start using these medications but do not continue. Due to side effects such as nausea, headaches, and extreme fatigue, the patient stops the treatment. This is the worst situation encountered during treatment because we end up strengthening the virus even more. In another application, we no longer prevent an HIV-positive mother from giving birth, the possibility of the disease passing to the baby is high, but we try to prevent the mother from breastfeeding. We can say that discontinuing medication treatment by the mother or pregnant person is the biggest mistake. We now have a wide variety of medications. There are also medications used in pregnant women that do not harm the baby. Therefore, pregnant women should definitely not discontinue anti-retroviral treatment, but they should not breastfeed and should not have a normal delivery. They must have a Cesarean section.” --- *Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/hiv-virus-turns-into-aids-if-diagnosis-delayed*