HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system, and it can cause several symptoms. However, not everyone will have the same symptoms, and it depends on the person and what stage of the disease they are in. Below are the three stages of HIV and some of the symptoms people may experience:
Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, about two-thirds of people will have a flu-like illness. This is the body’s natural response to HIV infection. Flu-like symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Rash
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Mouth ulcers
These symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. But some people do not have any symptoms at all during this early stage of HIV. Don’t assume you have HIV just because you have any of these symptoms—they can be similar to those caused by other illnesses. But if you think you may have been exposed to HIV, get an HIV test.
Stage 2: Clinical Latency After the acute stage, the virus moves into a stage called clinical latency. During this stage, the virus is still active, but it reproduces at very low levels. People in this stage may not have any symptoms, but the virus is still active and can be transmitted to others.
Stage 3: AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) If you have HIV and you are not on HIV treatment, eventually the virus will weaken your body’s immune system, and you will progress to AIDS. This is the late stage of HIV infection. Symptoms of AIDS can include:
- Rapid weight loss
- Recurring fever or profuse night sweats
- Extreme and unexplained tiredness
- Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
- Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
- Sores of the mouth, anus, or genitals
- Many of the severe symptoms and illnesses of HIV disease come from the ...
As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Oral yeast infection (thrush)
- Shingles (herpes zoster)
- Pneumonia
The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Although the virus can cause symptoms, they’re not a reliable way to tell if you’re infected. In fact, some people won’t have any symptoms at all. So even if you don’t have any of the typical signs of an infection, you should always get tested if you think you are at risk.
