Identifying the Symptoms of HIV/AIDS: An In-Depth Guide

As your reliable guide, it may not be ideal to merely list down HIV symptoms in bullet points. Instead, we want you to understand that various factors determine the nature of these symptoms. Wondering what these factors are? They include age, underlying health conditions, genetics, access to quality healthcare, and most significantly, the stage of the disease. With that said, symptoms may worsen as HIV progresses to AIDS. How can this progression be avoided? The golden rule is to visit a doctor as soon as you:

1. feel “HIV-vulnerable”
2. have sexual contact (accidentally or by choice) with HIV-positive partners
3. use a contaminated or used needle (although we strongly advocate avoiding this)

Addressing the issue early will slow the progression of the disease, allowing you to live a HIV-free life.

Now, let’s delve into the main topic – HIV symptoms.

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS in General

What are the symptoms of HIV?

Generally, individuals who have contracted the virus may experience flu-like symptoms. Your body activates a countermeasure to fight the infection by causing whole-body inflammation. These signs usually appear 2 to 4 weeks after the virus has entered the body. Known as acute HIV infection, the symptoms may last for several weeks.

The general signs and symptoms of HIV include:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Rash
• Headache
• Mouth ulcers
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Weight loss
• Cough
• Night sweats

Now, let’s discuss the symptoms specific to each stage.

Early-Stage HIV Symptoms

Early diagnosis and awareness of HIV can significantly reduce the risk of future complications. This makes the disease more manageable by monitoring and taking action on the viral load in the body. This brings up the question, What is HIV Viral Load?

HIV Viral Load

HIV viral load is measured by counting how much HIV is in your blood. A higher viral load means a more rapid progression of your disease.

Although HIV diagnosis is only possible through testing, knowing the early symptoms of HIV can help you notice if there’s something unusual about your health that could possibly be HIV.

Early HIV symptoms include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Skin rash
• Nausea
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Night sweats
• Weight loss

It is important to remember that even if HIV-positive individuals do not show any symptoms at this early stage, they are highly contagious due to their exceptionally high blood viral levels. Avoid sexual activities if you suspect any HIV-adjacent activity. Get tested after a few weeks, and if the result is negative, continue with your active sex life – but this time with extra protection!

Late-Stage HIV Symptoms

Imagine ignoring all HIV symptoms and allowing the viral load to increase in your body. What happens next?

When your body’s immune system has been severely compromised and damaged due to HIV, it progresses into AIDS. This is the final stage of an HIV infection diagnosed when the CD4 cells in your body are severely deficient. Consequently, your immune system can no longer fend off opportunistic diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia, and certain types of cancer.

Late-stage HIV or AIDS symptoms include:

• Recurring fever
• Immediate weight loss
• Prolonged swelling of lymph glands
• Chronic diarrhea
• Uncontrollable night sweats
• Sores in mouth, anus, and genitals
• Blotches on skin
• Memory loss
• Depression

Several of these symptoms are associated with other diseases due to a weakened immune system caused by AIDS or Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome.

It is also crucial to note that the severity and combination of symptoms may vary for each individual depending on factors such as age and underlying health conditions.

HIV Drugs

People living with HIV or AIDS are advised to undergo antiretroviral therapy (ART). This treatment involves taking a combination of several HIV medicines daily. A typical HIV treatment includes three HIV medicines from at least two HIV drug classes.

Here is a list of FDA-approved HIV drugs:

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

• Ziagen
• Emtriva
• Epivir
• Viread
• Retrovir

Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)

• Pifeltro
• Sustiva
• Intelence
• Viramune
• Viramune XR
• Edurant

Protease Inhibitors

• Reyataz
• Prezista
• Lexiva
• Norvir
• Aptivus

Fusion Inhibitors

• Fuezon
• Selzentry

CCR5 Antagonists

• Vocabria
• Trivicay
• Trivicay PD
• Isentress
• Isentress HD

Attachment Inhibitors

• Rukobia