Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to the Mayo Clinic. AIDS compromises the body's ability to fight off viruses and bacteria that can cause disease. People suffering from AIDS are more likely to get cancer, pneumonia and meningitis, as well as many other deadly diseases. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 39.5 million people in the world have HIV, many of whom will end up with AIDS. There are many symptoms that people with AIDS suffer from and they should contact their doctor if they have been exposed to the HIV virus.
Flu
The Mayo Clinic says that two to four weeks after the virus is contracted, a person will notice flu-like symptoms. This includes a fever, headache, sore throat, swollen glands or a rash. A person is advised to remember that they can transmit the disease even when they have no symptoms, so safe sex and drug use habits are recommended to prevent the spread of AIDS. In these early stages the virus begins to attack the white blood cells that are responsible for controlling a person's immune system.
Mild Infections
As the AIDS virus progresses it begins to cause mild infections in the body that become chronic. These symptoms can lie dormant for eight to nine years, reports the Mayo Clinic. When they become a problem, people often learn they have AIDS. The symptoms of the infections include swollen lymph nodes, which are one of the first signs. Also included are diarrhea, weight loss, fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Opportunistic Infections
In the final stages of AIDS, the immune system is very badly damaged and this impairment allows more infections to become present in the body, many of which can cause death. The symptoms of such infections include soaking night sweats, shaking chills and fever of higher than 100 F for several weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other symptoms that can be present are a dry cough, shortness of breath, white spots in the mouth, headaches and altered vision. The symptoms most associated with this stage of AIDS are persistent fatigue and swelling of the lymph nodes for more than three months.
