HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS, a long-term and life-threatening illness. According to the Mayo Clinic, HIV interferes with the body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. Symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary from person to person. Some individuals may not develop symptoms after exposure to the virus for quite some time, while others may exhibit typical symptoms within two to four weeks.
Asymptomatic
An individual who contracts HIV may not present any symptoms initially, but the Mayo Clinic explains that this does not mean the infection cannot be transmitted to others. During this time the virus is still multiplying and deteriorating tissues within the body. It may also show up on an HIV screening within several weeks.
Signs of Infection
HIV symptoms can be like any other viral infection. The Mayo Clinic states that symptoms may include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes or a rash. EMedTV.com warns that during the presence of these infection signs an individual is highly contagious but the illness is often attributed to some other viral infection. They also report that HIV is highly present in the genital fluids.
Other Early Symptoms
More definite initial symptoms of HIV can occur for some individuals within several weeks or within 10 years, according to eMedTV.com. These may include reduced energy, weight loss, frequent fever, sweating often, persistent or frequent yeast infections of the mouth or vagina, persistent skin rashes, flaky skin, female pelvic inflammatory disease that does not respond to treatment or short-term memory loss. Other symptoms may include the development of frequent or severe herpes infections of the mouth, genitals or anus. EMedTV.com also suggests that some individuals may develop shingles, a painful disease of the nerves.
