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Early Signs Of HIV Infection by jannydear(f): 2:44pm On Dec 05, 2019 |
Human immunodeficiency Virus, HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the body’s immune system. The HIV virus destroys cells in the body that helps keep infections at bay. The early signs of HIV varies from one individual to another. However, there are some general HIV symptoms common to both men and women. Sexually active adults are advised to get tested for HIV, particularly after engaging in unprotected sex. Apart from sexual contact, HIV can be transmitted through sharing of sharp objects including needles, blades, and others. A person who has been exposed to HIV virus may experience flu-like symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache, at the early stage. This can make it tough to detect since other health conditions equally mimic these symptoms. The most assured way of knowing your HIV status is by getting HIV test with or without flu-like symptoms. READ ALSO: Early Signs of HIV in Men The early signs of HIV generally appears within the first 1-2 months of infection. Most persons will experience these flu-like symptoms. A person’s viral load at this point is high and can easily spread the virus by engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse. This is why it is vital to get tested for HIV on regular basis as it increases your chances of surviving the deadly infection. In this article, we discuss the common early signs and symptoms of HIV infection to watch out for. We also listed the HIV infection common to men and women. A knowledge of these signs would help to detect the disease at its initial stage of infection. Fever Fever is one of the early signs of HIV. It is often accompanied by other mild symptoms like sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph glands. The virus at this point has gained access into the blood stream and has started duplicating itself in large numbers. Fever and other flu-like symptoms is your body’s natural response to an infection. So, when the HIV virus begins to replicate itself rapidly, it triggers an inflammation in your immune system. Headache and Fatigue An inflamed immune system triggered by the HIV virus can cause headache, lethargy and exhaustion. At times it can make you feel breathless while walking. Weakness can also occur at the later stages of HIV infection. READ ALSO: Surprising Things Most People Don’t Know About HIV And AIDS Nausea and vomiting and diarrhea Early signs of HIV infection also includes digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, these intestinal issues can also be experienced in the later stages of HIV infection, which is typically as the consequence of an opportunistic infection. Drink lots of water and fluid to stay hydrated. One major sign to know your diarrhea is triggered by an HIV infection is if it refuses to respond to the normal treatment. Swollen lymph nodes, achy muscles and joint pain Swollen lymph nodes, joint pains, and achy muscles are also early signs of HIV infection. Your immune system also comprises of lymph nodes, which helps protect your blood by eliminating bacteria and viruses. An infection can cause your lymph nodes to become swollen. Lymph nodes can be found in your neck, armpit, and groin. You can feel pains in these parts of your body when there’s an infection. Sore throat and dry cough Sore throat, accompanied by dry cough, are also early signs of HIV infection. A persistent dry cough that lasts months without appearing to resolve even with intake of antibiotics and inhalers may point to HIV infection. Night sweats Most people with HIV infection will experience night sweats at the early stages of the infection even in freezing weather conditions. Night sweats can also be experienced during the late stages of the infection. Skin rash Skin rashes is also one of the signs of HIV which can occur at the early or late stages of HIV. HIV rash can look like itchy boils with pink breakouts. Infections As the HIV infection destroys the body’s immune system, it renders it incapable of eliminating opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, candidiasis (vaginal, oral), and yeast infections For men and women with HIV, infections may occur at different parts of the body including brain, lungs, skin, digestive tract, skin, and eyes. Early Signs of HIV Infection in Men According to statistics, more men in the United States are living with HIV compared to women. People with HIV can live long healthy lives without spreading the virus to others using antiretroviral medication. The early signs of HIV infection in men are mostly mistaken for flu or other mild condition. People may easily underestimate them or mistake them for minor health conditions. Some few days or weeks after a male has been exposed to HIV virus, he may experience flu-like signs including: Headaches Tiredness or lethargy Fever Sore throat Skin rash As the infection progresses but still at the early stage, men may experience weight loss and dementia. As the viral load increases, some other signs of HIV begin to show up. Some less common early symptoms of HIV may include: Sore muscles Mouth ulcers Joint pain Swollen lymph nodes Genital ulcer Night sweat Nausea or vomiting These early signs of HIV infection in men can be underrated as mistaken for a milder condition. Delaying to get tested or see a doctor can increase the viral load, thereby worsening the symptoms of HIV as the infection progresses. This may be one reason why the HIV infection is more common in men than women. HIV Test for Men Sexually active males are expected to get tested for HIV at least 3-4 times in a year. According to CDC recommendation, everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV. What are the First Signs of HIV in Female? There are some early signs of HIV infection that is common to both males and females. These common symptoms includes: Flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, lethargy Skin rashes and sores Swollen lymph nodes Night sweats Other early signs of HIV that is only experienced by women include: Menstrual changes Menstrual changes is among some early signs of HIV in females. HIV infection can cause a woman’s period to be heavier or lighter than it used to be. In some cases, women with HIV infection may not even see their period, and if they do, they will experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that are severe. Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID) Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tube. Females with PID who also test positive to HIV may experience recurrent PID symptoms that is difficult to treat. Advanced Signs of HIV/AIDS As HIV infection advances, symptoms begin to deteriorate, particularly when an infected person is not on antiretroviral medication. Late signs of HIV infection include: muscle aches shortness of breath diarrhea weight loss severe headache joint pain nausea and/or vomiting chronic cough difficulty swallowing In advanced stages, symptoms of HIV may include: mental confusion short-term memory loss coma Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), is the last stage of HIV infection. At this stage, the CD4 of an infected person drops below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The body’s immune system is badly conceded, and is virtually unable to fight off infections. A person may be exposed to high risks of developing certain cancers, including cervical cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and Kaposi sarcoma. Bottom line There is no cure for HIV. It is essential to spot HIV infection at its early stages so as to increase your chances of surviving the disease. This is why it is vital for everyone to get tested for HIV. The HIV test isn’t only for those who are sexually active, though these class of people are mostly at high risk. Even having sexual intercourse for the very first time in your life with an infected person automatically exposes you to the virus. Early detection of HIV saves life. The intake of antiretroviral medications and attaining viral suppression will intensely cut down a person’s risk of developing opportunistic infections and help increase chances of living long, healthy lives. Source: https://healthdiary365.com/early-signs-of-hiv-infection/
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