First let me give you the advice not to rely on any HIV symptoms to establish whether or not you are infected with the HIV virus as these symptoms are similar to many other diseases symptoms. Especially don't rely on the early symptoms since they are flu-like symptoms. The only way to ensure whether you are infected is to have a HIV test.
The symptoms of HIV vary from patient to patient and depend on the stage of the illness. In general there are 3 major stages of infection. These phases and the related symptoms are listed below in chronological order.
1.) Primary HIV Infection
- fever
- headache
- pain in the limbs
- sore throat
- swollen lymph nodes
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- diarrhea
- skin rash
Those early symptoms occur within the first weeks after the infection with the virus took place. In this stage though the HIV antibody test is ineffective because the infected person's immune system hasn't developed any antibodies to the virus yet. It usually takes about 3 months until antibodies are detectable.
2.) Asymptomatic HIV Infection
In this phase, which can last 8 to 9 years, there are no symptoms at all. Nevertheless, in this period of time the HIV virus is reproducing itself and keeps destroying the immune cells.
3.) Symptomatic HIV Infection
- long-lasting swollen lymph nodes
- permanent night sweat
- long-lasting diarrhea
- persistent fever
- severe weight loss
- fungal diseases
- dermatitis
- dry cough and breathlessness
- chronic fatigue
This stage lasts about 1 to 3 years. If other severe infections like pneumonia, neurological diseases or certain types of cancer
occur in addition to these symptoms, then we are talking about full blown AIDS.
Find information & pictures of AIDS Symptoms here.
