The human immunodeficiency virus is one of the most feared illnesses in our culture to this day. It is possible for someone to have no symptoms of the illness at all in the beginning, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people who become infected with HIV begin to experience symptoms around two or four weeks after exposure. Medline Plus states that the only way to make a positive identification of HIV infection is by use of an ELISA/Western Blot test.
Fever
The human body is equipped to fight off infections through the use of white blood cells. When there is a threat to the body's well being, the white blood cells begin to move through the body quicker than normal causing the internal body temperature to rise. The threat to the body is the HIV virus, and a fever is the result of the initial infection.
Headache
The San Francisco AIDS foundation notes that headache is a common occurrence among HIV-infected individuals. The person who is suffering from the headache will be tested for any secondary infections, such as a sinus infection, to rule out those possibilities. This usually results in a diagnosis of migraine. The reason for the frequent migraine occurrence in HIV patients is due to chemical imbalance in the brain.
Sore Throat
Chronic sore throat is a common complaint with HIV-infected individuals. The reason people are prone to have sore throats is due to the ease of catching secondary infections. The immune system is under attack with HIV, rendering it weaker and less able to fight off sicknesses that were once fought off easily. Thrush or cytomegalo viruses are extremely common secondary infections.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
The lymph nodes create antibodies to destroy infections and germs that threaten the body. When there is an infection present, these glands swell to produce more antibodies than usual. The lymph nodes can be painful or tender to the touch, and will remain swollen for long periods of time with HIV infection.
Rash
The typical HIV rash is darker than a normal red rash, small, and slightly raised above the skin. This rash can appear anywhere on the body, but the most common places it can be found are on the face and on the abdomen. Sometimes, rashes appear on the genitals along with ulcers. The rash can last anywhere from two days to several weeks. The Understanding Medical Conditions website states that during the period of time that the rash is present, the odds of testing positive go up much more.
