Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevents the infected person's body from fighting off fungi, bacteria and other viruses. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 39.5 million people around the world are infected with HIV. The website Kids Health says that HIV/AIDS has been the sixth leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds since 1991. The first stage of HIV infection is called the primary infection. This stage occurs from the time of exposure and lasts a few weeks.
Fever
A fever is the first sign of any infection. It signifies the body's effort to try and fight the disease. White blood cells are the body's defense against intruders, so when there is an infection present, these white blood cells act quickly to eradicate the problem. Because they are moving so quickly, the body temperature begins to rise, resulting in a fever.
Sore Throat
With HIV, the sore throat symptom lasts for two weeks or more, and is persistent. To alleviate the pain of the sore throat one could use lozenges, crushed ice or syrups available at any drugstore. There are sprays available that help numb the throat for the worst cases.
Rash
The typical rash that occurs with HIV is a small, dark-colored rash that is slightly raised from the skin. The most common place for the rash to occur is on the face, the abdomen, and occasionally on the hands and feet. It is also common for small ulcers to develop in the genital area or in the mouth.
Headache
A headache is pain that is felt in the head above or behind the eyes or ears, in the back of the head, or in the area where the neck connects to the head. Even though headache is a common symptom with HIV, it can be caused from different things. Sometimes the headache is due to an infection within the central nervous system, sometimes it occurs because of meningitis, and other times the headache is simply a migraine. Often the cause of the headache is unknown.
