STAGES OF INFECTION
   
There are multiple stages of infection for the HIV virus, with the first stage being some harmless flu like symptoms. After the initial stage the virus begins to attack the special cells called CD4 cells that are responsible for the immune system having the ability to withstand an attack. The HIV virus is a retrovirus and we will need other cells to survive. The CD4 cells are the hosts through which the HIV virus grows in numbers thereby making the immune system weak. When the number of CD4 cells falls below a critical level the body cannot withstand the onslaught of infections from other agents. The third stage is usually diagnosed as AIDS that will be confirmed with a positive test of HIV and severely depleted CD4 cells.