HIV Infection Warning Signs

Unlike many other common infections, including some other STDs, early HIV infection is marked by its absence of symptoms. While some people do develop seroconversion illness, a flu-like illness shortly after contracting the virus (including up to one-fifth of people who experience symptoms within the first week), these symptoms will not lead to a diagnosis of HIV on their own. If an individual believes she has been exposed to HIV, it is important to be tested, as this is the only way to know one's status. People who are not tested but contract the virus often do not discover they have been infected until HIV-disease is already advanced.

Exposure

• For adults in the United States and other developed nations, there are two main routes of transmission for HIV: unprotected acts of penetrative sex and the use of shared hypodermic needles. Because the symptoms of early HIV infection are very mild or may be absent, knowing that one has possibly been exposed is the best information on which to make decisions about testing.

Acute HIV Infection

• During acute (primary) HIV infection, some people develop a flu-like illness; this occurs between two and four weeks after infection. The symptoms of this illness include fever, swollen lymph nodes, aches and pains and digestive issues, according to HIV-Symptoms.info. Some people have no symptoms as a result of acute HIV infection, or have very mild symptoms.

  These symptoms are non-diagnostic. This means that even people who seek treatment for these symptoms will not be diagnosed with HIV on the basis of these symptoms alone. If you believe you have been exposed to HIV and develop these symptoms, seek HIV testing.

Asymptomatic HIV

• After the symptoms of seroconversion illness clear, HIV enters its longest phase, the asymptomatic. This stage lasts for an average of ten years, although this varies greatly from person to person. During this time there are no symptoms and there will be no symptoms until HIV has advanced to its third, symptomatic stage. People who do not know their HIV status during this time might unknowingly infect others by not taking proper precautions.

Testing

• Because in early HIV-disease, on average, the first 10 years, are marked by an absence of symptoms, the only way to know one's HIV status is through testing. Testing can identify infection before it progresses to symptomatic phases and allow you to make informed decisions about protecting others and about seeking treatment.

  One important piece of information to keep in mind is that tests administered within the first month of possible exposure are highly unlikely to yield a true positive, as it takes an average of one month for a newly infected person to develop a detectable level of antibodies (a process called seroconversion); this process can take up to six months. Therefore, if you test negative after one month of possible infection, it is advisable to be tested again between three and six months of possible exposure. For more on HIV testing and to find testing centers, see Resources.

Symptomatic HIV

• Many people do not discover that they have contracted HIV until it becomes symptomatic. The symptoms of the third stage of HIV include a chronic, flu-like illness along with night sweats, weight loss, fungal infections and skin and breathing problems, according to HIV-Symptoms.info.