When you are first infected with HIV, you may experience a short ‘flu-like’ illness as your immune system attempts to fight the virus.
If you notice any of these early signs:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Tiredness
- Diarrhoea
- Joint/ muscle pain
- Swollen glands
- Skin rash
If you have any of the symptoms, It is highly recommended that you should get tested for HIV. It is possible that you may have more than one sexually transmitted diseases at a time. To know your status, you should take STD panel test along with HIV Early Detection test.
Cause for concern?
When it comes to HIV infection, it’s important to know what early symptoms to look for. Early detection of the infection can help ensure that you receive prompt treatment to control the virus, and possibly slow the progression into AIDS.
Warning signs
Depending on the phase of the infection, symptoms of HIV can vary. Initially, most people who contract the illness experience common flu-like symptoms that may be hard to distinguish from a more general flu or a gastrointestinal or respiratory infection.
This first stage of HIV is known as acute or primary HIV infection. It’s also called acute retroviral syndrome (ARS).
Specific symptoms
A number of symptoms associated with the flu may be the first to arise as early signs of HIV. These include:
- headache
- fever
- tiredness
- swollen lymph nodes
- rash
Other possible symptoms are muscle and joint pain, sore throat, and ulcers in the mouth or on the genitals. Some people also experience night sweats and diarrhea.
Timetable
Early HIV symptoms generally arise within one to two months of being infected, although according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) they can arrive as early as
two weeks after exposure, and as late as three months post-infection.
However, some people experience no early symptoms after they have been infected with HIV.
Other considerations
When it comes to HIV symptoms, it’s important to remember that it’s not always HIV itself that makes you feel sick. Many HIV symptoms, particularly the most severe ones, arise from what are called opportunistic infections.
The microorganisms responsible for these infections are generally kept at bay in people who have an intact immune system.
However, when the immune system is impaired, these germs can attack your body and cause illness. Also, those who show no symptoms during early HIV infection may become symptomatic and begin to feel sick once they progress toward developing AIDS.
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