First Symptoms Of HIV

Anyone who is exposed to HIV needs to know the first symptoms of HIV. Some people experience little or no symptoms, while others experience severe symptoms.

1. The first symptoms of HIV typically occur within the first few days or weeks of being exposed to the virus. As mentioned, some individuals experience no initial symptoms. People that do exhibit first symptoms of HIV will experience fever, sore throat, headaches, an overtired feeling, skin rashes, and swollen lymph glands. This initial period of infection is the Primary Infection.
2. HIV symptoms are not an accurate method for diagnosing the infection. The only reliable way to test for the HIV virus is testing for the prescience of HIV antibodies in the blood. This is because the first symptoms of HIV vary from one patient to the next and may mimic other illnesses. Further, HIV testing will not reveal the infection until the body produces antibodies to fight the virus. This window period is between two weeks to six months, with three months being the norm.
3. Once the first symptoms of HIV are over, most infected people will not experience symptoms for eight to ten years. However, the virus continues to weaken the immune system, and will eventually turn into full-blown aids. Some people who experience the first symptoms of HIV are lured into a false sense of security, because the symptoms will disappear. The infected individual may think the illness is the flu. It is important to be tested if you think you are infected with HIV.
4. When symptoms do return years later, the infected person may develop many illnesses. People with aids can expect bouts of pneumonia. Other illnesses that attack weakened immune systems are tuberculosis and even toxoplasmosis. The latter illness is a parasite that many healthy people are infected with. Healthy immune systems easily fight off this disease. Aids sufferers may succumb to coma and even death because of their inability to fight the parasite.

In summary, if you think you have HIV you need to be tested. In addition, the first symptoms of HIV can mimic other illnesses, while others may show no sign of the infection at all. Once the first symptoms of HIV have passed, the infected individuals will not show any signs of the virus until eight or ten years down the road. When this occurs the virus has turned into AIDS. Since HIV is a virus, there is no cure.  However, if caught early it can be effectively treated.