| The early symptoms of HIV resemble many common | | | | In the first month of HIV infection flu like symptoms |
| viral illnesses and may not cause you to suspect that | | | | such as fevers, aches, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, |
| you are infected with a life-threatening disease. | | | | skin rashes, or other flu like symptoms may occur. |
| Although you may not get a positive laboratory test | | | | Clearly these can be related to a common cold or flu. |
| result for HIV until up to six months after you were | | | | However, if you believe you may have a chance of |
| infected, you may experience some early symptoms | | | | being exposed get tested immediately. |
| and are at risk of infecting others. | | | | Symptoms of HIV: - |
| Symptoms in Children: - | | | | The most common symptoms of acute HIV infection |
| Children experience different symptoms of HIV than | | | | are fever, fatigue and skin rash; other symptoms |
| adults. According to the National Institute of Allergy | | | | may include headache, sore throat and swollen glands. |
| and Infectious Disease (NIAID), these include stunted | | | | Some people do not experience symptoms during |
| mental and physical growth along with neurological | | | | first-stage HIV disease. |
| and motor problems. According to the NIAID, about | | | | • Recurring fever or profuse night sweats |
| 20 percent of children born with HIV become ill during | | | | • Profound and unexplained fatigue |
| the first year of life while the rest remain healthy | | | | • Easy bruising |
| until they reach school age or beyond. | | | | • Bouts of extreme exhaustion |
| Length of Time: - | | | | • Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, |
| There have been HIV patients who discovered they | | | | or neck |
| were positive nearly a decade after they were initially | | | | • Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or |
| infected. Over that period of time, it is common for | | | | under the skin or inside the mouth, |
| these patients to have had diarrhea, weight loss, | | | | • Memory loss, depression, and other |
| fevers, coughing bouts, swollen lymph nodes and | | | | neurological disorders |
| shortness of breath at various times. While all are | | | | • Diarrhea lasting more than a week |
| signs of HIV, they are also symptoms for other, less | | | | • Rapid weight loss |
| serious illnesses that they are often mistaken for. | | | | • Dry cough |
| Notice signs of third stage HIV: - | | | | • White spots or unusual blemishes on the |
| Third stage HIV or Symptomatic HIV occurs just | | | | tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat |
| before full blown AIDS. You will experience ongoing | | | | • Pneumonia |
| flu symptoms like the ones mentioned in step two. | | | | Cause of HIV: - |
| You will likely also experience significant weight loss, | | | | Symptoms experienced during acute HIV infection |
| loss of appetite, skin infections, and difficulty | | | | are caused by the immune system responding to the |
| breathing. AIDS itself increases these symptoms and | | | | infection. This is why it is also known as |
| often leads to infections a normal immune system | | | | seroconversion illness; seroconversion is a process of |
| would repel or specific types of cancers. | | | | developing antibodies (specifically, an amount that can |
| Watch for flu like symptoms: - | | | | be detected by tests). |