HIV (from the English acronym Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which is the human immunodeficiency virus, is the cause of AIDS. HIV attacks the immune system, destroying a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections and disease. The only way to know if you've contracted HIV is through a specific test. In any case, it is possible to notice particular symptoms if the infection has reached an advanced stage.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identifying the Early Symptoms
Step 1. Notice if you always feel fatigued for no apparent reason
Fatigue is a symptom of many diseases, but HIV-positive people often complain of it. It shouldn't be a cause for alarm, but it sure is a factor to monitor.
- Acute fatigue is not the same as being sleepy. Are you always tired even after a good night's sleep? Do you realize that you take more naps than usual in the afternoon and avoid strenuous activities because you don't have the strength? This is a type of fatigue to investigate.
- If the symptom persists for more than a couple of weeks or a month, get tested for HIV.
Step 2. Be careful if you have a fever or excessive night sweats
They are common symptoms in the early stages of HIV infection, which are called the acute or primary stage. Again, not all people experience the same signs, but many patients have reported them 2-4 weeks after exposure to the virus.
- Fever and night sweats are also symptoms of the flu and the normal cold. If it's a time of flu and cold, maybe that's it.
- Chills, body aches, sore throats and headaches are all similar signs for the flu and early stage HIV.
Step 3. Check for enlarged neck, armpit and groin glands
Lymph nodes swell when they react to an infection. It does not happen to all HIV-positive people, even if it is a very common symptom.
- In the case of HIV infection, the lymph nodes in the neck tend to swell more than those in the armpit and groin.
- Lymph nodes also swell for other reasons, such as the flu and cold, so further diagnostic investigations are always needed.
Step 4. Notice if you have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
These symptoms, usually related to the flu, are also common to HIV. Test if they persist.
Step 5. Check for ulcerations in your mouth and genitals
If you notice these ulcers in addition to the other symptoms (especially if you are not a person prone to suffering from them), you may be infected with HIV. Genital ulcers are also a sign of infection.
Part 2 of 3: Advanced Symptoms
Step 1. Don't ignore dry cough
It is a symptom of the later stages of HIV and can occur even after years of latent presence of the virus in the body. At first it appears as a harmless symptom that people tend to ignore, especially in the season of allergies or colds. If you have a dry cough that doesn't respond to allergy medications or inhalers, it could be a sign of HIV infection.
Step 2. Check for patches or irregular marks on your skin (red, brown, pink or purple)
Patients in the advanced stages of the infection often have rashes, especially on the face and torso. They could also be inside the mouth or nose. It is a symptom that indicates the development from HIV to AIDS.
- Scaly, red skin is another advanced HIV signal. These spots sometimes show up as wheals or blisters.
- Usually, a rash does not accompany the flu or cold. So, if in addition to the other symptoms you see these spots appear, go to the doctor immediately.
Step 3. Watch out for pneumonia
Immunosuppressed (not necessarily seropositive) are very often affected. People in the advanced stages of HIV are very prone to pneumonia caused by bacteria that would not normally develop such a serious condition.
Step 4. Check for mycoses, especially in the mouth
Advanced patients often have yeast and fungal infections in the mouth, called thrush. They appear as white spots on the tongue and on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It is a sign that the immune system is compromised and unable to defend itself.
Step 5. Check for nail fungus
If they are yellow or brown, fractured and chipped, they are likely infected with them and is a common symptom in HIV-positive patients. Nails become susceptible to fungus that a healthy body would generally be able to eradicate.
Step 6. Be careful if you are losing weight quickly and considerably with no apparent cause
In the early stages of HIV, weight loss is caused by diarrhea, while in the more advanced stages it is referred to as "wasting" and is an extreme reaction of the body to the presence of the virus.
Step 7. Pay attention if you have episodes of memory loss, depression or other neurological problems
HIV affects the cognitive functions of the brain when it is in an advanced stage. These are serious symptoms that need to be investigated and addressed without delay.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding HIV
Step 1. Know if you are at risk
There are many occasions that can bring you into contact with the HIV virus. If you have experienced any of the following situations, you are at risk:
- You have had anal, oral or vaginal sex without protection;
- You shared needles or syringes;
- You have previously had and treated sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tuberculosis, or hepatitis;
- You received a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985, before safety measures were taken to prevent the transmission of infected blood.
Step 2. Get tested for HIV
This is the most accurate way to know if you are infected. Contact the hospital, ASL, your doctor or a local counseling center to find out where you can take the exam. Visit the Lila website to find out more.
- The test is simple, inexpensive and reliable (in most cases). The most common test is done with a blood sample. Other tests involve the use of other fluids such as urine. There are even tests you can do at home. Ask the ASL for information.
- If you've taken the HIV test, don't let fear stop you and go collect the results. Knowing if you are HIV-positive or healthy will lead to changes in your lifestyle and way of thinking.
- Many organizations recommend having the test as part of the general follow-up visit, even if you believe you are not at risk. Taking action during the early stages of the infection can help prevent complications in the later stages.
Step 3. Do not wait for symptoms to occur to get tested
Many people are affected by the virus without knowing it. Between the moment of contagion and the first symptomatology, up to 10 years can elapse. If you have reason to believe that you may have HIV, don't be reassured by the absence of symptoms and get tested. It is best to know the truth as soon as possible.
Advice
- If you have any doubts, you absolutely must do the analyzes. It is the right thing to do, both for your health and for that of others.
- If you test at home and test positive for infection, you will be provided with information to perform another test. Don't avoid the second test. If you are worried, make an appointment with your doctor or ASL.
- HIV is not a foodborne virus and is not transmitted through the air; in fact it does not survive for long outside the organism.
Warnings
- In the United States, one fifth of people living with HIV do not know they are sick.
- Never pick up an abandoned needle or syringe.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) increase the risk of contracting HIV.
