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HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that causes a weakening of the infected person’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, often called T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of those cells that the body can't fight off infections and disease. If left untreated, HIV develops into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, and not everyone who has HIV advances to this stage. People at this stage of HIV disease have badly damaged immune systems, which put them at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs). Approximately 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV today. About 15% of them (1 in 7) are unaware they are infected. In the U.S.

Symptoms* of HIV vary depending on the individual and what stage of the disease a person is in: early stage, clinical latency stage, or AIDS (the late stage of HIV infection).

Stage	Symptoms	Duration
Early- 2-4 weeks after infection	Flu-like illness: Fever and chills. Rash. Swollen lymph nodes. Sore throat. Muscle aches.	1 week+
Clinical latency	No symptoms or mild symptoms	Can last a decade or longer for people who aren’t taking medicine to treat HIV.
AIDS	Rapid weight loss. Recurring fever. Perfuse night sweats. Extreme and unexplained tiredness. Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin or neck. Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week. Sores on the mouth, anus, or genitals. Pneumonia. Red, brown, pink or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside of the mouth, nose, or eyelids. Memory loss. Depression. Other neuralgic disorders.	Varies.

Stage

Symptoms

Duration

Early- 2-4 weeks after infection

Flu-like illness:

Fever and chills.
Rash.
Swollen lymph nodes.
Sore throat.
Muscle aches.

1 week+

Clinical latency

No symptoms or mild symptoms

Can last a decade or longer for people who aren’t taking medicine to treat HIV.

AIDS

Rapid weight loss.
Recurring fever.
Perfuse night sweats.
Extreme and unexplained tiredness.
Prolonged swelling of the lymph glands in the armpits, groin or neck.
Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week.
Sores on the mouth, anus, or genitals.
Pneumonia.
Red, brown, pink or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside of the mouth, nose, or eyelids.
Memory loss.
Depression.
Other neuralgic disorders.

Varies.

*Symptoms alone won't tell whether a person has HIV. The only way to know for sure is to get tested

There are different types of tests that are used to detect HIV and may be performed on blood, oral fluid, or urine. Most HIV tests are blood tests that can detect HIV antibodies (substances made by the body in response to
the virus) when infected. Usually, the body forms antibodies about six weeks after exposure to HIV. A person could be infected with HIV even though an antibody test result is negative if tested during this "window period."

If you suspect you may be at risk of being infected with HIV, talk with your healthcare provider or someone who works at an HIV counseling and testing center about having an HIV antibody test performed. Any woman who is considering having a baby and thinks she might be at risk for HIV infection should seek counseling and testing before getting pregnant

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