How do l know if l have HIV and what are the symptoms?
The only way to determine for sure whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected with HIV. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years. The following may be warning signs of infection with HIV: • rapid weight loss • dry cough • recurring fever or profuse night sweats • profound and unexplained fatigue • swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck • diarrhoea that lasts for more than a week • white spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat • pneumonia • red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids • memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders However, no one should assume they are infected if they have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses. Again, the only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV
