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7 Early Warning Signs Of An HIV Infection - Yahoo
Sore muscles and swollen lymph nodes could be subtle red flags.
Sore muscles and swollen lymph nodes could be subtle red flags.
During the first few weeks of being infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), most people — roughly two-thirds — experience a mix of flu-like symptoms that indicate their body is reacting to the virus. After being exposed to the virus, your immune system jumps into action to get control of the infection and clear it from your body.
This early phase of infection, known as acute retroviral syndrome or acute HIV infection, can be so mild that certain individuals may not even notice they're sick. People often mistake the symptoms, such as a fever or headache, for the flu, mononucleosis or tonsillitis.
In most cases, these early signs only last a week or two. "It basically feels like a flu reaction since the initial HIV viral load is very high," saidDr.Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
Regardless of whether you feel sick, these first few weeks are some of the most infectious. Being aware of these symptoms, especially if you recently had sexual contact with a new partner or multiple partners, can help you get tested and take steps to reduce the impact HIV can have on your health ― in the short and long term.
Here's what to look for if you think you might have been exposed to HIV:
FeverThe most common early warning sign is a fever, usually at 100.4ºF or higher. One report investigating acute HIV symptoms in 155 patients found that 66% reported a fever.
Soon after infection, the virus swims throughout your bloodstream and replicates. The viral load is very high after seroconversion (becoming infected with HIV), and a fever is the body's way of trying to fight the virus, explains Gandhi.
"The usual response to a pathogen is to mount a fever in order to try to recruit immune cells to kill the pathogen," Gandhi said.
FatigueFatigue, or a general sense of weariness or exhaustion, is common in many infections, HIV included. The fatigue may be mild, but, in some cases, it can be so intense that it impacts quality of life, social connectedness, job productivity, level of physical activity, well-being and health-seeking behaviors, research shows.
"When one's body is fighting infections, there's a lot of chemicals that get released called cytokines," said Dr. Philip Grant, an infectious diseases specialist at Stanford Medicine. While these chemicals help combat infections, that process can be exhausting, he added.
Roughly two-thirds of people experience flu-like symptoms in the first few weeks of an HIV infection.
Roughly two-thirds of people experience flu-like symptoms in the first few weeks of an HIV infection.
HeadacheAfter seroconversion, your head may also start to ache. One study found that over half of HIV-positive participants who were seen at a clinic reported a headache. It's the most common neurological complaint associated with HIV.
According to Grant, some people with acute HIV may develop meningitis or inflammation in the meninges caused by the virus entering cerebral-spinal fluid. That can cause a headache, according to Grant, but a headache can also just be the body's typical response to all the cytokines swirling around.
Swollen Lymph NodesYour lymph nodes — located in the armpit, groin and neck areas — may also become enlarged. Part of the immune system is located in the lymph nodes, and in the early days of an infection, your body boosts the production of immune cells.
"That's why you get more cells there and why the lymph nodes are getting swollen," Grant said.
Many people notice the swollen glands in their neck, Grant said. He added that people usually won't have a single swollen node but a cluster of swollen lymph nodes. While lymph nodes can swell up in other areas, like the groin and armpits, many people don't notice them as readily as the ones in their neck.
Sore ThroatAnother common early symptom of HIV is a sore throat or tonsillitis. According to Grant, tonsils in the back of your throat are lymphatic tissue, meaning it's an area where the body is actively fighting infection. They help filter out germs and protect your body from harm, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
If your tonsils are inflamed, it may be uncomfortable, even painful, to swallow. Grant says he's had patients go to the emergency room assuming they had tonsillitis or a strep infection only to learn they have HIV.
RashSome people will suddenly develop a rash, which will cause a patch of your skin to feel itchy, red and painful. A rash occurs in about 50% of people infected with HIV, usually three or so days after the fever appears.
HIV-related rashes can occur anywhere on the body, but they're often located on the torso and face, evidence suggests. Again, the rash is a common symptom of many infections, including chicken pox, measles, and hand-foot-and-mouth disease, so it may not be initially obvious it's related to HIV, Grant said.
Muscle And Joint PainRoughly half of people with an acute HIV infection experience muscle aches, according to the National Institutes of Health. They typically set in a week after contracting HIV and, again, feel similar to the aches triggered by influenza.
Cytokines promote inflammation throughout your body."When cytokines are released, the body can feel very tired with muscle and joint aches, which makes the body 'slow down' as it tries to fight an infection," Gandhi said.
The main takeaway: "It's a lot like the flu, it's almost indistinguishable," Grant explained. If you have any of these early HIV symptoms and recently had sex with more than one partner or have had sex with someone whose sexual history you don't know about (or your partner has), it's important to check in with a healthier provider and get tested.
You can do so at your primary care doctor's office, through your local health department, a health clinic, or at an HIV testing site (here's a nationwide directory).
The sooner you get tested, the earlier you can start treatment, if need be. When given in the first few weeks of infection, antiretrovirals can inhibit viral replication, reduce symptoms, and, ultimately, improve long-term health outcomes. These early signs may not be obvious, but being aware of them and taking action as soon as possible can help you protect your health and avoid transmitting the infection to others.
HIV Symptoms In Men: Early And Later-Stage Signs To Know - WebMD
Most of the time, HIV symptoms are the same for both sexes. But there are a few symptoms that may be unique to men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
You may not have any early signs of HIV. But if you do get symptoms right away (called acute HIV infection), they probably won't be gender-specific.
Early HIV symptoms typically include flu-like symptoms that last for a few days to several weeks, such as:
Tell your doctor if you think you've been exposed to HIV and you get the above symptoms, even if you start to feel better. You should be tested for HIV. That's the only surefire way to know if you have it.
These male-specific HIV symptoms can also be signs of other conditions. So if you have any of the following, make sure to speak with your doctor:
Low sex drive. This can be a sign of hypogonadism, which means your testicles don't make enough of the sex hormone testosterone. This condition is tied to HIV, especially among older people with HIV who have advanced disease.
Hypogonadism (or low testosterone) can also cause:
Sores on your penis. A common sign of HIV is painful open sores (called ulcers) on your mouth or esophagus. They can also appear on your anus or penis. These sores often heal but keep coming back.
Tell your doctor if you have any ongoing sores on or around your penis. Long-lasting or recurrent genital sores can be one of the first signs of HIV or another STI (sexually transmitted infection). Genital sores can also be caused by conditions other than STIs as well.
Pain or burning while peeing. Often, this is a symptom of a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea or chlamydia. It may also be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other health problem linked to a weakened immune system.
Can HIV cause prostatitis?
Sometimes, pain when you pee can signal swelling of the prostate, a small gland beneath the bladder. This condition is called prostatitis. It's sometimes caused by a bacterial infection.
Your odds of getting prostatitis and the infections that cause it are higher if you have HIV.
Besides pain or burning when you pee, other symptoms of prostatitis include:
After HIV overpowers your immune system, it spreads at a slower rate. This stage is called chronic or clinical latency. In many cases, you won't have any noticeable symptoms.
Without treatment, this stage can last 10 to 15 years. With treatment, you may stay in this stage for decades and live a long and healthy life.
If HIV goes untreated and continues to damage your immune system, you may have mild or long-lasting symptoms such as:
AIDS is the last stage of HIV. This is when the virus has seriously damaged your immune system. Your body can't fight off many infections, which can lead to symptoms.
Signs of AIDS include:
HIV/AIDS can also raise your chances of getting certain cancers, including testicular cancer.
Can you prevent HIV from turning into AIDS?
AIDS can be prevented by starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible after you're diagnosed with HIV. But it's important to take ART even if you've already developed AIDS.
Your doctor will prescribe ART to keep your immune system as healthy as possible. You may also need medicine for any infections or other health problems caused by your weakened immune system.
HIV can cause similar symptoms in people of all genders. But if you're a man or assigned male at birth, signs of HIV may include a low sex drive, sores on your penis, or other health problems that may cause pain or discomfort when you pee or ejaculate.
There's no cure for HIV, but it's treatable. With early and effective treatment, you have a good chance of living about as long as someone without HIV.
Talk to your doctor about starting ART if you haven't already, even if you've already developed AIDS. They'll help you come up with an HIV treatment plan to support your immune system and help you stay as healthy as possible.
How long does it take for HIV to show up in males?
You may get flu-like symptoms 2-4 weeks after you're exposed to the virus. Most self-tests that check for HIV can detect the virus within 23-90 days. HIV may show up sooner on other tests, such as a nucleic acid test (NAT).
How do you know if a guy has HIV?
The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. But some signs of HIV in males include a low sex drive, pain when you pee, or sores on your penis.
Does HIV cause discharge in males?
HIV doesn't cause a discharge from your penis. But you're more likely to get other infections if you have engaged in risky behaviors or if you have a weakened immune system due to the virus. This commonly includes sexually transmitted infections that cause a discharge, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Early Signs Of An HIV Infection: What You Need To Know And Do
HIV is a virus that weakens your immune system. It's transferred through bodily fluids like semen, vaginal fluids, and blood.
When it comes to HIV transmission, it's important to know what early symptoms to look for. Early detection of HIV can help ensure prompt treatment to control the virus and prevent progression into stage 3 HIV. Stage 3 HIV is more commonly known as AIDS.
Early treatment using antiretroviral drugs makes the virus undetectable, which can prevent transmission to other people.
In this article, we examine the early symptoms of HIV and symptoms that may develop as the disease progresses.
The early signs of HIV, also known as acute retroviral syndrome, may appear as symptoms similar to those caused by the flu. These can include:
Early HIV symptoms generally develop within 2 to 4 weeks of transmission. Some people may not experience any early symptoms after they've contracted HIV.
It's important to remember that these early HIV symptoms are also associated with common illnesses and health conditions. To be sure of your HIV status, consider speaking with a healthcare professional about testing options.
A lack of symptoms can last for as long as 10 to 15 years. But this doesn't mean that the virus is gone. HIV is a manageable health condition. But left untreated, HIV can progress to stage 3 even if no symptoms are present. That's why it's so important to get tested.
The first stage of HIV is known as acute or primary HIV infection. It's also called acute retroviral syndrome. During this stage, some people experience common flu-like symptoms that may be hard to distinguish from a gastrointestinal or respiratory infection.
The next phase is the clinical latency stage. The virus becomes less active, though it's still in the body. During this stage, people experience no symptoms while the viral infection progresses at very low levels. This period of latency can last a decade or longer. Many people show no symptoms of HIV during this entire 10- to 15-year period.
The final phase of HIV is stage 3. During this phase, the immune system is severely damaged and is vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Once HIV progresses into stage 3, symptoms associated with infections may become apparent. These symptoms can include:
Symptoms associated with HIV itself, like cognitive impairment, can also become apparent.
Early diagnosis is key. If you think you've been exposed to HIV or have an encounter that put you at risk for HIV, you should seek medical care right away with a primary care doctor, urgent or walk-in clinic, or, if those are not available to you, a local emergency room.
Doctors can give you a medication called post-exposure prophylaxis after exposure to reduce your chances of developing HIV. But this medication needs to be taken within 72 hours of exposure. Ideally, you'd start taking it within the first 24 hours.
If you think you were exposed to HIV in the past – for example, if a former sexual partner tells you they have HIV – it's critical to seek medical care as soon as possible. The sooner you find out you have HIV, the sooner you can start treatment.
HIV testing is important. Someone living with HIV who isn't getting treatment can still transmit the virus, even if they have no symptoms. Others may pass the virus to others through an exchange of bodily fluids. But today's treatment can effectively eliminate the risk of transmitting the virus to a person's HIV-negative sexual partners.
According to the CDC, antiretroviral therapy can lead to viral suppression. When someone with HIV can maintain an undetectable viral load, they can't transmit HIV to others. The CDC defines an undetectable viral load as fewer than 200 copies per milliliter (mL) of blood.
Taking an HIV test is the only way to determine whether the virus is in the body. There are known risk factors that increase a person's chance of contracting HIV. For example, people who've had sex without a condom or shared needles may want to consider seeing their healthcare professional about getting tested.
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