Human Immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that attacks the body's immune system compromising its ability to fight off infections. Many people will not experience any symptoms for as many as ten years after infection, although both men and women may suffer from flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes or rash, two to four weeks after infection. These early symptoms are often mistaken for a common cold or flu virus and are not attributed to potential HIV infection. Men and women have very similar symptoms when infected with HIV; however, women also experience unique complications that are primarily gynecologic.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are glands that are readily felt in the neck, arm pit and groin and are commonly swollen and tender to the touch upon infection. Lymph nodes may be swollen during the first weeks after HIV infection and then resolve, only to return--possibly in ten years or more--as a later symptom the infection. The MayoClinic.com reports swollen lymph nodes as frequently being one of the first symptoms of HIV infection, but often attributed to other common ailments when HIV is not suspected.
Fever and Night Sweats
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites fever and/or profuse night sweats as a potential symptom of advanced HIV infection in men. Night sweats are defined as excessive sweating, soaking your sleepwear and linens even when the temperature of the room is not exceedingly warm. Both fever and night sweats are indicative of many different diseases and conditions, including HIV, and should be discussed with a health care provider.
Weight Loss
Non-intentional weight loss is another symptom of HIV in men. The Merck Manual reports that as HIV infection progresses, and AIDS is suspected, weight loss may be directly related to HIV infection, or may be a result of an opportunistic infection that is associated with AIDS.
Late HIV Infection Symptoms
The CDC defines AIDS as the combination of a positive HIV antibody test, as well as at least one of several other symptoms which include an opportunistic infection--an infection that occurs when the body's immune system is compromised making it vulnerable to rare or unlikely infections, or a CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 or less. As HIV progresses to AIDS, men may begin to experience such symptoms as increasing night sweats, fever, dry productive cough, persistent diarrhea, fatigue, headache and significant weight loss, memory loss or dementia and skin rashes.
