HIV Symptoms

HIV Infections

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one million people aged 13 and older were living with an HIV infection in the United States at the end of 2009. Gay and bisexual men make up nearly two-thirds of the 50,000 newly infected each year. Black/African American men and women are also greatly affected.Early treatment is key to a long life, but some men experience no symptoms. Here are the signs to look for.

Key to Long Life

The earlier you can help the body fight HIV, the better. A study published in PLOS Medicine found that HIV-positive adults can have a near-normal life expectancy, provided they start treatment before their immune systems are compromised.

Flu-Like Feeling

• rash on the arms, legs, face, or belly


• sore throat


• swollen lymph glands


• mouth or genital ulcers


• bad headaches


• muscle aches and joint pain


• nausea and vomiting


• night sweats

No Symptoms

HIV is tricky. In some people, it will create no symptoms of infection until the damage to the immune system has progressed. You may feel perfectly fine for months or years. Then, you may start suffering from a new infection or sickness that took hold because HIV weakened the immune system. This is why early testing—even when you feel fine—is so important.

You Get Sick

• swollen lymph glands


• unusual lesions on the tongue; skin rashes and bumps


• nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea


• cough and shortness of breath


• chronic fatigue


• fever, chills, and night sweats


• rapid weight loss


• blurred or distorted vision


• other symptoms of infection or disease

Doubt, Get Tested

If you notice any of the symptoms presented here, ask your doctor for an HIV test. It’s a simple blood test. You can even order a home HIV test kit online, using the FDA-approved OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, which doesn’t require you to send the sample to a lab. Simply test yourself and see results in 20 to 40 minutes.A recent study indicates that for some people, early treatment can create a “functional cure,” allowing patients to live a healthy life without continued treatment.

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