HIV is a chronic lifelong disease cause by the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is contracted through sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, infected blood, and during childbirth and breast-feeding through mother to child transmission. Some people infected with the HIV virus can remain asymptomatic for a period of up to 10 years but are still highly contagious and may pass the disease along to others. However, there are some common signs and symptoms of HIV infection that you should be aware of.
Flu-Like Symptoms and Rash
According to Mayo Clinic, when first infected with HIV, you may have no signs or symptoms at all, although it’s more common to develop a brief flu-like illness two to four weeks after becoming infected. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, headache, swollen lymph glands and a sore throat. These symptoms can be easily mistaken as the flu. You may develop a rash around the time of seroconversion, which usually takes place around two to three weeks after the initial infection. The rash can appear slightly raised, small and dark in color. It is usually present on the trunk of the body but may be present on the hands and feet. Not all people will experience the early symptoms of HIV infection.
Later Infection
Some people may remain symptom free for a period of up to 10 years. During this time, the virus is busy destroying healthy cells in your body. Symptoms of later infection may begin to appear during this time. They include swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, fever, weight loss, cough and shortness of breath. In women, frequent vaginal yeast infections can occur. Muscle aches and mouth sores may also occur. To prevent acquiring a life-threatening infection, treatment should begin as soon as possible. If you think you may be experiencing early or late symptoms of HIV, it is important to get tested. A simple blood test will determine if you have contracted the HIV virus.
AIDS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AIDS is defined as the presence of HIV infection as shown by a positive HIV-antibody test plus either the development of an opportunistic infection or a CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 or less. Signs and symptoms of advanced HIV include high fever, chills, soaking night sweats, headache, diarrhea, weight loss and severe fatigue. At this point, your body is susceptible to many life-threatening illnesses and infections. If you’re infected with HIV, you’re also more likely to develop certain cancers, especially Kaposi’s sarcoma, cervical cancer and lymphoma, although improved treatments have reduced the risk of these illnesses, reports Mayo Clinic.
About this Author
Laura Candelaria is a family nurse practitioner and assistant professor of nursing and nutritional science. Her experience includes neonatal and pediatric intensive-care, women’s oncology, gynecology, obstetrics, lactation, nutrition, and infertility. She has been published in “Nursing Spectrum,” “Newsday,” and LIVESTRONG Health.
