Overview
Incidence
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Evaluation
AIDS testing
HIV testing
Treatment
body wasting
diet
fusion inhibitors
integrase inhibitors
NNRTI drugs
NRTI drugs
protease inhibitors
questions for doctor
specialist
Home Care
anorexia
depression
diet
pain in adults
pain in children
stress
taking control
warning signs
Prevention
Outlook
Complications
lipodystrophy syndrome
opportunistic infections
Underlying Cause
origin
Transmission
Anatomy
AIDS Symptoms
Most people have cold symptoms about two months after being infected by HIV. Symptoms of acute HIV infection are often similar to influenza. For this reason, a person may not be aware that they are infected.
Symptoms of an initial HIV infection include:
- Anorexia
- Headache
- Body aches
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Rash (generalized)
- Runny nose
- Sore throat

- Lymph gland swelling (generalized)

- Malaise
If the HIV infection is untreated, the virus starts to weaken the immune system, which is unable to fight infections properly.
In those with AIDS, infections may occur in various locations, including:
- Brain
- Eye
- Intestine
- Lungs
- Mouth
- Skin
Other symptoms of HIV AIDS include:
- Blurry vision
- Eye pain
- Cough
- Pleuritic chest pain:
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain often described as sharp
- Diarrhea
- Fever

- Chills
- Excessive sweating during the night
- Headache
- Chronic headaches
- Lesion in the mouth

- Skin lesion:
- Kaposi's sarcoma

- May be multiple lesions

- Sore throat

- Mouth ulcers
- Generalized weakness
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Confusion
- Delusions
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Numbness and tingling:
- Feet numbness
Continue to AIDS Evaluation
Last Updated: Jan 23, 2011 References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
Copyright DSHI Systems, Inc. Powered by: FreeMD - Your Virtual Doctor
PubMed AIDS References
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- Paul SM, Sensakovic J, Podhurst LS, Morgan DH, Triano-Davis W. Managing HIV/AIDS patients. N J Med. 1998 May;95(5):55-60. [16013158]
- Treatment guidelines from the Medical Letter: Drugs for HIV Infection. Treat Guidel Med Lett 2004 Jan; 2(17): 1-8. [15529108]
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