HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the patient's immune system, leaving him susceptible to other viruses and diseases. One reason for people being undiagnosed is the absence of symptoms for many years, or that many of the early symptoms of HIV resemble less severe viral infections.
Early Infection Symptoms
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says many HIV patients don't have any symptoms when first infected. The Mayo Clinic says patients who do have symptoms in the early stage of HIV have signs that resemble the flu. These symptoms include a sore throat, headache and fever. The NIH adds that some patients also have rashes, such as seborrheic dermatitis, in which the skin is flaky and white or yellowish in color. Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D., author of the article "HIV Symptoms," says one of the first symptoms of HIV is swollen lymph nodes. These lymph nodes are the glands of the immune system, noticeable by touch in the neck or the groin. Fatigue is another symptom of early HIV. The early symptoms can last between a week and a month; the patient is also highly infectious during this period, according to Schoenstadt.
Later Infection Symptoms
For HIV patients who didn't display symptoms in the early stage, the Mayo Clinic says their first symptoms can appear eight to nine years after infection when they have reached the later stage of the infection. During this stage, the patient can experience increasing fatigue, lack of energy, diarrhea and weight loss. Fevers can also become more prevalent in the later stage. The rash also continues, with the patient having flaky skin. Schoenstadt adds that yeast infections are frequent in the mouth or vagina. Female patients can also suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that does not respond to treatment. Cognitive functions are also affected, with short-term memory loss a possible symptom.
Last Phase of HIV
The Mayo Clinic defines the last phase of HIV as 10 or more years after the infection and the stage before the infection progresses to AIDS (autoimmune deficiency disorder). During the last phase of HIV, the patient's immune system is severely compromised, leaving her vulnerable to opportunistic infections. One example is PCP (pneumocystis carinii pneumonia), which the NIH says is a fungal infection of the lung. Symptoms of PCP include a cough, fever, shortness of breath and rapid breathing. Schoenstadt adds that other symptoms of opportunistic infections with HIV include seizures, painful swallowing, confusion, memory problems and nausea.
