HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV is transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person and by sharing needles or syringes with an infected person. The possible symptoms of HIV will vary from patient to patient. Symptoms also come in stages including early stage, later stage and latest stage.
Early Stage Symptoms
Some individuals have no HIV symptoms during the early stage. However, it is more common to experience symptoms that mimic the flu two to four weeks after acquiring the infection. Possible symptoms of HIV during the include fever, rash, headache, swollen lymph glands and sore throat.
Later Stage Symptoms
Some people will not have symptoms for eight or nine years before the later stage begins. During the later stage, individuals may begin to develop chronic symptoms or chronic infections. Possible symptoms of HIV during the later stage include swollen lymph nodes, cough, diarrhea, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss. Other possible symptoms of HIV during the later stage include unexplained and persistent fatigue, persistent headaches, soaking night sweats, chronic diarrhea, long-lasting fever higher than 100 degree F, shaking chills and swollen lymph nodes that stay swollen for longer than three months.
Latest Stage Symptoms
The latest stage begins about 10 years after an individual becomes infected. This stage presents the more serious possible symptoms of HIV. This stage is the stage that occurs before HIV turns into full-blown AIDS. Possible symptoms of HIV during the latest stage include developing opportunistic infections such as pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).
Children's HIV Symptoms
Children with HIV will experience unique symptoms due to their age. Possible symptoms of HIV in children include difficulty walking, trouble gaining weight, a delay in mental development, problems growing normally and common childhood illnesses that are far more severe than normal such as tonsillitis and ear infections.
AIDS Symptoms
Once HIV becomes full-blown AIDS, individuals are very susceptible to acquiring opportunistic infections. The possible symptoms of the most common opportunistic infections include soaking night sweats, weight loss, long-lasting fever higher than 100 degrees F, headaches, shaking chills, shortness of breath, persistent white spots or abnormal lesions in the mouth or on the tongue, chronic diarrhea and dry cough.
Possible Complications
Those with HIV are at a higher risk of developing several serious fungal, bacterial, parasitic and viral infections. Since an individual with HIV has a weaker immune system, these infections can be deadly. Those experiencing the possible symptoms of HIV need to be tested so that their healthcare provider can help them try to avoid these deadly infections if they do in fact have HIV.
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