A 21-year-old member asked:
Symptoms of hiv?
6 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marianne DiNapolianswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 10 years experience
Don't wait!: Don't wait for the symptoms of HIV to show up - get tested if you could be at risk (risk factors: unprotected sex, needle sharing). A few weeks after contracting the virus, HIV causes a flu-like syndrome (fevers, malaise). Then the virus can lie dormant for years before causing life-threatening infections of the lung, brain, and other organs due to the body's damaged and decreased immunity.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Brian Flyeranswered
Internal Medicine 42 years experience
Hiv: Generally, people are unaware of this because there are no symptoms until one's immune system is sufficiently impaired.
That's why it's important to be screened for this even if you don't have symptoms.
There is a condition called acute HIV that occurs shortly after contracting the infection, but this is often ignored since many of the symptoms are flu-like.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. David Rosenthalanswered
Allergy and Immunology 23 years experience
Acute HIV: Acute HIV symptoms occur soon after exposure to HIV and include "flu like symptoms" such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, rash, muscle pain, malaise, mouth/esophageal sores. These symptoms last for a few weeks, and then patients largely do not have any symptoms. If you think you could have hiv, get tested.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A Verified Doctoranswered
Infectious Disease 27 years experience
There are many.: Symptoms of HIV can vary greatly. During acute infection only about 30% of people experience anything you would call a symptom such as fevers night sweats chills and swelling of lymph nodes over their body. Severe weight loss and diarrhea are usually more progressive signs of infection present usually after months to years. Skin cancers such as kaposi's sarcoma can also arise but these are all.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Camilla Grahamanswered
Internal Medicine - Infectious Disease 29 years experience
Acute or chronic?: Acute HIV can look like a lingering flu-like syndrome, with fevers, chills, night sweats, sore throat, fatigue, rash, abdominal pain or nausea, etc. This can be diagnosed with an HIV antibody or viral load test. Chronic HIV may be asymptomatic, or may show weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, yeast infections, or skin problems. Every adult should have at least one HIV test.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Robert Killiananswered
General Practice 30 years experience
None: Having HIV is usually asymptomatic. One needs a test to determine infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 18-year-old male asked:
What is the early symptoms of hiv?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Robert Killiananswered
General Practice 30 years experience
HIV is hard to get?: Many people do not have many symptoms. But, they would be like a flu-- muscle aches and severe fatigue.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
United Kingdom
A 24-year-old male asked:
Hi what are the symptoms of HIV ?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Gerald Mandellanswered
Nuclear Medicine 54 years experience
Consult physician: The majority of people infected by HIV develop flu-like illness within 1 or 2 mo. After the virus enters the body.Acute HIV infection, may last for a few weeks. Possible symptoms include: fever, muscle soreness, rash, headache, sore throat, mouth or genital ulcers, swollen lymph glands, mainly in neckjoint pain, night sweats, and diarrhea.Other infections can cause sore throat, swollen glands, night sweats.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Could I be HIV infected and have no symptoms at all?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
You bet !!: Many people have HIV disease for years before it is discovered, and are never symptomatic until their immune system has been devastated. If you suspect you may have been exposed, please get tested asap, since the earlier therapy is begun the better the outcome.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Does having HIV symptoms mean you have it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Joel Gallantanswered
Infectious Disease 38 years experience
No: "hiv symptoms" are very non-specific. For example, weight loss, fevers, night sweats, and/or chronic diarrhea could be symptoms of hiv, but they could also be symptoms of many other conditions. People had these symptoms well before 1981, when the aids epidemic began. Don't try to self-diagnose HIV based on symptoms: get a test.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
What are the main HIV symptoms?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joel Gallantanswered
Infectious Disease 38 years experience
Many symptoms: This question is posted often, and though i'm an HIV expert, i ignore it for 3 reasons: (1) there are too many to list here, (2) by the time you have symptoms, you've had HIV for a long time, and (3) everyone should be tested long before they get symptoms. I'll just say that symptoms of acute HIV infection are similar to those of mono: fever, swollen nodes, fatigue, rash, sore throat.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 6, 2023
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