What are some of the symptoms of HIV infection and AIDS?
Once infected with HIV, a person may or may not experience any symptoms. People who do experience symptoms might have a flu-like illness within one or two months after infection. Symptoms can include fever, headache, tiredness and/or enlarged lymph nodes. These symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for the symptoms of more common viral infections, like a cold. More persistent or severe symptoms might not appear for several years after a person is first infected with HIV. This period of “asymptomatic” infection is highly individual. Some people might begin to have symptoms within a few months, while others might be symptom-free for more than 10 years.
Once infected with HIV, a person may or may not experience any symptoms. People who do experience symptoms might have a flu-like illness within one or two months after infection. Symptoms can include fever, headache, tiredness and/or enlarged lymph nodes. These symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for the symptoms of more common viral infections, like a cold. More persistent or severe symptoms might not appear for several years after a person is first infected with HIV. This period of “asymptomatic” infection is highly individual. Some people might begin to have symptoms within a few months, while others might be symptom-free for more than 10 years.As the immune system is weakened by HIV, several complications and symptoms could begin to occur. These symptoms might be made worse if the HIV-positive person is not getting the care and services they need. For many people, the first signs of infection are enlarged lymph nodes or “swollen glands” that m