HIV symptoms

HIV is an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV interferes with the body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause illness. Without treatment, it also can lead to AIDS, a chronic, life-threatening disease.

The symptoms of HIV vary by how long you've had the disease and whether you get treatment for it.

Early symptoms

Most often, HIV causes flu-like symptoms about 2 to 4 weeks after being infected. These symptoms may last for a few days or for weeks. During this time, the virus makes copies of itself fast. The risk of passing the disease to sexual partners is high.

Early HIV symptoms can include:

• Fever.
• Chills.
• Headache or muscle aches.
• Sore throat.
• Swollen lymph glands.
• Rash.
• Fatigue.
• Night sweats.
• Mouth ulcers.

The only way you know if you have HIV is to be tested.

Chronic or middle-stage HIV symptoms

Over time, the HIV virus keeps making copies of itself, but at lower levels. This is called the chronic stage of infection. You might not have any symptoms during this time. If you take HIV medicines called antiretroviral therapy exactly as prescribed, you might stay in this stage for life.

• Swollen lymph nodes, which are often one of the first signs of HIV infection.
• Diarrhea.
• Weight loss.
• Fever.
• Cough and shortness of breath.