33) HIV 101: Signs and Symptoms

People who are positive to HIV may not have symptoms of HIV infection for 10 years or longer, but they can still transmit the infection to others during this symptom-free period. People often only begin to feel sick when they progress towards AIDS. 

Some symptoms of HIV infection are similar to symptoms of many other common illnesses such as flu, respiratory infections, or gastrointestinal infections. And for this reason, HIV Testing is the only way to know for sure if a person is infected.

Early Stages of HIV

Two to four weeks after contracting the virus, a person can experience flu-like symptoms. This stage is called Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS), and it is the body's natural response to HIV infection. Symptoms may include:

1. Fever

The fever, if it occurs at all, is often accompanied by other usually mild symptoms, such as fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and a sore throat. At this point, the virus is moving into the bloodstream and starting to replicate in large numbers. As that happens, there is an inflammatory reaction by the immune system.

2. Fatigue

The inflammatory response generated by a person's besieged immune system can also cause tiredness and lethargy. Fatigue can be both an early or later sign of HIV.

3. Muscle Aches and Joint Pain

Acute retroviral syndrome is often mistaken for the flu, mononucleosis, or another viral infection (even syphilis or hepatitis). The reason is because, many of the symptoms are the same, including pain in the joints and muscles.

4. Swollen Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are a part of the body's immune system and tend to get inflamed when there is an infection. Many of the lymph nodes are located in the armpit, groin, and neck.

5. Sore Throat and Headache

6. Skin Rash

Skin rashes can occur early or late in the course of HIV/AIDS. If a person has rashes that are not easily explained or easily treated, an HIV test is recommended.

7. Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea

30% to 60% of people with HIV have short-term nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in the early stages of the disease. Diarrhea that is unremitting and not responding at all to usual therapy might be an indication of an HIV infection.

8. Ulcers in the Mouth

9. Dry Cough

This symptom is described as an insidious cough that could be going on for weeks that does not seem to resolve.

10. Night Sweats

This is similar to the hot flashes that menopausal women suffer. Night sweats are also hard to dismiss given that they soak your bedclothes and sheets.

Chronic or Latency Phase

After the initial infection and seroconversion, the virus becomes less active in the body, although it is still present. During this period, many people do not have any symptoms of HIV infection. This period can last up to 10 years or sometimes longer.

AIDS

At this stage, many people begin to suffer from fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, night sweats , and even wasting syndrome. Many signs and symptoms of AIDS come from opportunistic infections which occur in patients with a damaged immune system.

Reference:

aids.gov
nlm.nih.gov
health.com
pnac.org.ph