You’ve had unprotected sex and are worried that you might have contracted HIV from your partner. You desperately need answers before you decide to visit the medical provider to get tested. What are the early signs of HIV that you might be experiencing?
Early Signs of HIV
Some people experience HIV symptoms around 2-4 weeks after being infected. For others it can take 10 years or more for symptoms to show, and most people who have HIV experience no symptoms at all. The early signs of HIV are the same symptoms that an individual with the flu may experience, typically fever, achiness, and feeling physically ill. These kind of symptoms can be easily misdiagnosed, which is why routinely getting tested for HIV is so important.
Late Signs of HIV or AIDS
HIV symptoms are more common and severe when a person has been living with HIV for an extended period of time without treatment. HIV destroys cells in your immune system leaving you vulnerable to illness, disease, and infection. Being diagnosed within the early stages will allow you to seek medical treatment and live a longer, healthier life.
The long-term signs of HIV include:
- Extreme weight loss
- Fatigue
- Dizzy and lightheaded
- Easy bruising
- Diarrhea
- Night sweats
- Skin rashes
- Numbing in hands and feet
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Yeast infections or Thrush (a thick layer of white residue on the tongue or mouth)
- Headaches
The signs and symptoms of HIV are wide-ranging and can also be experienced with a variety of other common illnesses. Getting tested for HIV is the only way to determine if you are positive. If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to HIV, contact us today.
