HIV infection may not cause symptoms for a number of years or you may experience some early symptoms within 6-8 weeks of becoming infected. During this acute HIV infection, the virus is rapidly reproducing, and the bodys immune system is mounting a defense. The virus can easily be passed to other people during this period.
Initial symptoms may include:
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Fever
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Extreme, unexplained fatigue
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Swollen lymph nodes in armpits, neck, or groin
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Headache
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Dry cough
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Night sweats
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Rash
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Sore throat
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Joint Pain
After these initial symptoms are gone, there may be no symptoms for months to years, depending on your health status and lifestyle choices. It may be as long as 10 years before a person with HIV develops symptoms. Some infected people have had the virus for even longer periods without developing symptoms. Even though there are no symptoms, the virus is multiplying and damaging the immune system and can be passed on to someone else.
Once the virus sufficiently weakens the immune system, the following symptoms may occur over the course of 1-3 years:
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Swollen lymph glands all over the body
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Fatigue
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Fungal infections of the mouth, fingernails, toes
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Repeated vaginal infections ( yeast and trichomonas)
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Development of lots of warts
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Exacerbations of prior conditions, such as eczema , psoriasis , and herpes infection
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Shingles
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Fever
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Night sweats
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Weight loss
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Chronic diarrhea
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Memory loss
Once HIV has progressed to AIDS, the immune system has become quite weakened and prone to opportunistic infectionsinfections that people with a normal immune system don't usually get. These infections occur in people with AIDS because the immune system isn't able to fight them off.
Examples of opportunistic infections and other complications of AIDS include:
Thrush (an overgrowth of yeast)
Pneumonia (particularly Pneumocystis jiroveci [formerly, carinii])
Invasive fungal infections (resulting in brain and/or lung infections)
Toxoplasmosis infection
Tuberculosis
Viral brain infection
Kaposi's sarcoma
Lymphoma
Cervical cancer
Eye disease due to cytomegalovirus infection
Intestinal infections, especially due to shigella , salmonella , and campylobacter
Severe weight loss (wasting syndrome)
Severe skin rashes
Reactions to medications
Psychiatric problems, including depression and dementia
Symptoms of these conditions (opportunistic infections and other complications of AIDS) include:
Shortness of breath
Coughing with blood-tinged sputum
Swallowing problems
Confusion and forgetfulness
Severe diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Vision loss
Severe headaches
Coma, but only in very severe cases of viral brain infection or terminal cases
Reddish, brownish, or purple spots on the mouth or skin
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov.
Conn's Current Therapy 2001 . 53rd edition. WB Saunders Company; 2001.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Available at: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/.
Textbook of Primary Care Medicine . 3rd edition. Mosby, Inc.; 2001.
Last reviewed January 2007 by Jill D. Landis, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
