Know the Symptoms of HIV at Every Level of Severity

According to WebMD – HIV symptoms in the early stages can look similar to signs or symptoms of many other diseases. Only by taking an HIV test can one confirm whether or not their symptoms are related to HIV.

For people with HIV, the sooner treatment starts, the better. There are now antiretroviral drugs or ARVs that are taken for life to suppress the amount of virus in the body before the condition worsens, so that people with HIV can stay healthy and prevent the disease from developing into AIDS.

Early signs and symptoms of HIV:

If you are at risk or have been directly exposed to HIV, there are several signs that could be early symptoms of HIV infection, including:

1. Fever

Similar to other viral infections, fever is one of the early symptoms of HIV. Some people will also experience sweating, chills, and shivering.

Fever as an early symptom of HIV is usually accompanied by signs of inflammation, such as swollen lymph nodes and a sore throat.

2. Getting tired faster

The body’s immune defence against HIV infection can cause you to feel tired and lethargic more quickly. You may pant when walking or feel short of breath. Fatigue can be a symptom of HIV in its early and advanced stages.

3. Swollen lymph nodes

When there is an infection in the body, the lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system, tend to become inflamed and swell. The swelling can be accompanied by pain and will usually be felt in one or more areas such as the neck, armpits, and groin.

4. Skin rash

HIV symptoms in the form of skin rashes can occur at the beginning or end of the seroconversion period. HIV seroconversion is the time taken by HIV from initial exposure to infection, and eventually triggers the formation of antibodies that can be detected by tests.

The rash that is a symptom of HIV may last for about two to three weeks, with no initial itching. In some people, the rash may look like a reddish, itchy boil or pimple.

5. Indigestion

Another early HIV symptom that can occur is indigestion such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. However, these symptoms can also appear in more severe HIV infections or as a result of opportunistic infections. Diarrhoea as a symptom of HIV cannot usually be treated with regular diarrhoea medication.

6. Sore throat and dry cough

Throat problems such as a sore throat or a severe, chronic dry cough that lasts for weeks or even months can also be a symptom of early-stage HIV. Coughs that are symptoms of HIV usually don’t go away despite taking antibiotics or using inhalers.

7. Night sweats

Excessive sweating at night in people with HIV can be quite severe, even causing their clothes or bedding to become wet. This is not related to room temperature, so you can still experience it even if the room temperature is quite cool.

HIV phase 1 (acute) symptoms:

HIV phase 1 is the acute stage of HIV, where a person may experience flu-like symptoms, one or two months after being infected with HIV. Phase 1 HIV symptoms often disappear within a week to a month.

Symptoms can vary from person to person. In fact, some do not experience any symptoms at all. However, there are conditions that are most commonly felt as symptoms of HIV phase 1, such as:

Fever and chills;

Night sweats;

Muscle and joint pain;

Rash;

Sore throat;

Easy fatigue;

Swollen lymph nodes;

Thrush.

Symptoms of HIV phase 2 (chronic):

HIV phase 2 is the chronic or latent stage. This means that the virus is still alive but reproducing at a much lower level in the body so that sufferers can survive for years without feeling any HIV symptoms.

The chronic phase of HIV can last as long as 10-15 years, but some cases occur sooner.

In this chronic phase, even if you don’t feel sick, you can still transmit HIV to others unless the amount of virus in your body can be suppressed so much with ARV drugs that it becomes undetectable.

People with HIV who receive ARV treatment can stay in this stage for decades and are less likely to experience significant complications.

Symptoms of HIV phase 3:

HIV phase 3 is the most severe phase known as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). If a person with HIV does not receive the necessary treatment, the condition will progress to AIDS.

At this stage, opportunistic infections will be much easier to occur because the immune system can no longer function properly.

Opportunistic infections are infections that in healthy people can usually be cured easily. But in people with AIDS, these infections can trigger severe illness. An example of a disease that can be an opportunistic infection for people with AIDS is the flu.

Symptoms of AIDS that can appear include:

Rapid weight loss;

Severe night sweats;

Persistent fever;

Extreme fatigue;

Unexplained fatigue;

Prolonged swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin, neck, or armpits;

Bouts of diarrhoea lasting more than a week;

Multiple sores near the mouth, genitals, or anus

Inflammation of the lungs;

Patches on or under the skin

Patches inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids;

Memory loss;

Depression;

Nerve disorders.

What should I do if I feel HIV symptoms?

HIV symptoms are actually not very specific, so to make sure what you feel is really HIV infection, special tests need to be done.

HIV testing can be done in many health facilities, including Puskesmas. If you choose to have an HIV test at a health centre, here are some of the steps you will go through:

Written statement: You will need to sign a written consent for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT).

Pre-test counselling stage: Providing information about HIV/AIDS and consulting with counsellors in an honest and open manner.

HIV testing: Explanation of the tests that can be done and asking for consent to take an HIV test. Test results will be provided face-to-face by the counsellor.

Post-test counselling phase: If the test result is negative, the counsellor will provide counselling on prevention and the importance of reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS. If the test result is positive, the counsellor will provide moral support, as well as important information for HIV management.

Preventing HIV from becoming AIDS is not impossible: People with HIV can continue to move around with a healthy body if they follow the recommended treatment, take HIV medications as prescribed and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you still have questions about HIV symptoms or about other health complaints, consult a doctor immediately.

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