HIV Symptoms

AIDS: Introduction

AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a serious disease affecting the human immune system and is caused by the HIV virus (Human Immunodeficiency virus). The HIV virus destroys or causes damage to the cells of your immune system. The virus mostly spreads through unsafe sex with an infected person.

In many cases, the first signs of HIV infection consist of swollen lymph nodes or glands that stay inflamed for about three months.

What are the HIV Symptoms?

Symptoms in the early stage of HIV infection occur as your body produces antibodies to the virus. This happens between one to three months of an infection.

In most people, the symptoms are not apparent. In others, early signs for HIV are almost identical to flu. These include fever, head ache, body and muscle ache, rash, fever and loss of appetite.

Moreover, these early symptoms of HIV last for weeks and then stop completely by themselves. Once you are infected, the HIV virus can cause some initial symptoms and then remain inside your body for years before you actually have full blown AIDS disease.

Symptoms indicating HIV infection in men can include:

Fever

You may experience mild to moderate fever which can be accompanied by headaches. HIV symptoms can make an appearance in as little as two week’s time following an infection.

Rash

You may find the occurrence of a rash on your body which appears as a red inflamed patch on your skin. This is an early symptom for HIV that is often ignored or overlooked for some other injury.

Diarrhea

This symptom comes on at a much later stage of an HIV infection. Diarrhea comes as a lone symptom or is accompanied by other ones like rash, fever or swollen glands.

Weight Loss

Another advanced sign is an unexplained, rapid weight loss without dieting or other identifiable factors follows an HIV infection.

Lethargy

If you suffer from a dramatic loss of white blood cells following an HIV infection, you start feeling lethargic with an overall lack of interest, enthusiasm and energy.

Symptoms indicating HIV infection in women can include:

Symptoms differ slightly for women with HIV infections. These symptoms may present themselves in a few weeks time or may take up to many years.

Vaginal Infections

Women suffer from recurrent vaginal infections often due to an imbalance of microorganisms and a weak immune system. This is the main symptom of HIV for women.

Flulike Signs

Infected women can experience flu like symptoms within weeks of an HIV infection. These include body ache, fever, fatigue and sore throat that make an appearance while your body is trying to fight off the infection.

Abnormal Menstrual Cycle

Among early HIV signs is when the menstrual cycles become disturbed and irregular. The symptoms may also result in missed cycles or in total absence of periods in the long run. Women with previous normal menstrual cycles can take these abnormal symptoms as an early indication.

Intestinal Problems

A rapid loss of weight in absence of dieting or other explanation is an indication in itself. Lack of appetite and diarrhea are the two contributors and are common symptoms.