The Symptoms of HIV Infection
You may not develop any symptoms of HIV infection for more than ten years. This fact is scary when you
consider the sexual history of your partners. Some will develop flu-like symptoms immediately after exposure
to
the infection. These include headache, tiredness, enlargement of the lymph nodes in
the neck, and a fever. These will disappear within a few weeks. You may not develop any added signs of
HIV or AIDS for many years. Scientists are studying reasons some patients develop AIDS faster than other
patients who have been exposed. There are still no clear answers to that question.
During the time between infection and showing symptoms you may not feel bad, have any signs of the disease, but
you can still infect others. During the time you may not have symptoms, the virus will continue to multiply
and kill the cells of the body’s immune system. That immune system is vital in helping our body fight off
virus and bacterial infections. The primary cells for infection fighting are the CD4+ or T4 cells.
For those with their immune cells being attacked may begin to feel some minor symptoms that can be passed off as
flu, or many other kinds of physical problems. The patient who is harboring the HIV virus may start feeling
tired and complain of having little or no energy. They may have unexplained weight loss even though they are
eating healthy diets and are not trying to lose weight. The patient may experience excessive sweating and
frequent episodes of fever.
More symptoms of the HIV virus include persistent yeast infections in women. This can easily be passed
over as a symptom because yeast infections are frequent and can be caused by many other problems. Antibiotics
can cause yeast infections, it can be passed back and forth between sex partners, and can easily be caused by use
of some personal hygiene products. No wonder it is easy to miss this important symptom!
Did You Know?
The signs of symptoms of AIDS or HIV are different depending on what stage the
infection is in. When a person is first infected they may have flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph
nodes but recover quickly.
This flu-like sickness may occur two to six weeks after being infected and is not always associated
with the possibility of HIV infection. Even if you do not have any of these symptoms until years
later, you can still infect other people with the virus.
Once your body is invaded with the HIV or AIDS virus, your immune system is under attack. Even
though you may not be having any symptoms, you can still pass the disease on to another person.
Meanwhile, even if you are symptom free, your cells that coordinate your immune system are slowly
being destroyed.
You can remain this way for as many as ten years but during that time you will begin it experience
more frequent infections as your immune cells are destroyed.
You may experience chronic symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, shortness of breath, cough,
fever, and unexplained weight loss.
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Skin problems or frequent rashes can also be dismissed as routine skin problems, but they are a symptom of the
HIV and AIDS disease. Dry flaky skin is also a problem that many people experience but often do not associate
with AIDS. Skin rashes that are persistent and are hard to get rid of can be a symptom of AIDS or caused by
weather conditions or many other medical problems. Short-term memory loss and herpes sores on the mouth,
genital, or anus can also be a symptom that should be looked at by a doctor.
AIDS is an advanced stage of the HIV infection. There are more than 26 conditions that are common to patients
who have HIV that rarely happen in healthy people. Most of these are conditions caused by parasites, fungus,
bacteria, virus, and other organisms.
AIDS Facts
Aids and HIV is currently infecting more heterosexuals than homosexuals because the gay
community has become far more aware of safer sex practices.
Practice safer sex if you have more than one sexual partner or if you are in a new
relationship.
Get yourself tested regularly.
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The early symptoms of AIDS may include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and difficult or
painful swallowing. They may also include seizures and a total lack of coordination in the body. If you
have had unprotected sex or shared needles or syringes during drug use, you may be a potential AIDS victim.
You should have an HIV test. The earlier your disease is detected, the more the disease can be controlled and
slowed.
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