Category: HIV
WHAT ARE SOME SYMPTOMS OF HIV?
MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS WHEN THEY FIRST BECOME INFECTED WITH THE HIV VIRUS. SOME MAY EXPERIENCE FLU-LIKE ILLNESS WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS. THESE SYMPTOMS USUALLY DISAPPEAR WITHIN A WEEK TO A MONTH AND MAY BE EASILY CONFUSED WITH OTHER VIRAL INFECTIONS AND IGNORED. THIS TIME PERIOD IS VERY INFECTIOUS AND HIV IS PRESENT IN LARGE QUANTITIES IN GENITAL FLUIDS. OTHER SYMPTOMS MAY NOT SURFACE FOR UPWARD OF SEVEN TO TEN YEARS AFTER BECOMING INFECTED. THE VIRUS MAY BE ACTIVELY MULTIPLYING, INFECTING, AND KILLING THE CELLS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
IN THE BEGINNING, THE BODY IS ACTIVELY FIGHTING THE VIRUS BUT MAY WEAKEN OVER TIME DUE TO THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE. AS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DETERIORATES, COMPLICATIONS BEGIN TO SHOW. SOME INITIAL STAGE SIGNS ARE: LARGE LYMPH NODES OR SWOLLEN GLANDS THAT STAY ENLARGED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, LACK OF ENERGY, UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT LOSS, CHRONIC DIARRHEA, RESPIRATORY DISORDERS, NIGHT SWEATS, FEVERS, CHRONIC YEAST INFECTIONS (ORAL OR VAGINAL), FLAKY SKIN, SKIN RASHES, PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE THAT DOES NOT RESPOND TO TREATMENT, SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, AND SOME PEOPLE DEVELOP FREQUENT AND SEVERE HERPES INFECTIONS THAT CAUSE MOUTH, GENITAL OR ANAL SORES, OR SHINGLES (PAINFUL NERVE DISEASE).