Signs and Symptoms of HIV Infection

Many people have no symptoms when they first become infected with HIV. But some people get a flu-like illness within a month or two after being exposed to the virus. The flu-like symptoms - fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes (immune system glands in the neck and groin) - often go away within a week. During this time, HIV is present in large amounts in semen and vaginal fluids and it is very easy to pass the infection to another person.

All people who have HIV go through what is called an asymptomatic period of infection. This means that a person lives symptom free for a period of time. But, during this time they can still pass the infection to another person. The asymptomatic period varies greatly from person to person. Some people may begin to have symptoms within a few months, while others may be symptom free for 10 years or more.

HIV is active inside a person's body, even when no symptoms are present. The virus multiplies, or makes more virus, killing more and more cells of the immune system that fight infection (called CD4 and T cells). This process weakens a person's immune system over time. For many people, the first symptom they notice is large lymph nodes (swollen glands) that may be enlarged for more than 3 months. Other symptoms often felt months to years before the onset of AIDS include:

• Lack of energy or fatigue.

• Weight loss.

• Frequent low-grade fevers and night sweats.

• Frequent yeast infections (in the mouth).

• Skin rashes or flaky skin that is hard to get rid of.

• Short-term memory loss.

Women who have HIV can also have other symptoms that happen more often, may not respond to treatment, and can be harder to cure including:

• Vaginal yeast infections.

• Other vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and common STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that cause genital warts and can lead to cervical cancer.

• Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID), or infection of a woman's reproductive organs.

• Menstrual cycle changes, such as not having periods.