Knowing your HIV status is crucial for maintaining your health and well-being. However, the presence or absence of symptoms can be confusing, especially in the early stages of HIV infection.
If you suspect you’ve been infected with HIV, visit AFC Urgent Care Beaverton or surrounding locations for HIV Testing. Schedule an appointment or walk in 7 days a week for prompt, compassionate care.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of HIV?
Many people experience no symptoms at all in the early stages of HIV infection. This is why getting tested is vital, even if you feel well. If symptoms do occur, they typically appear within 2 to 4 weeks after exposure to the virus. These initial symptoms are often flu-like and can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.
Here's a breakdown of the different stages of HIV and their associated symptoms:
1. Acute HIV Infection (2-4 weeks after exposure)
This is the first stage of HIV infection, and up to 80% of individuals experience flu-like symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Chills
- Rash
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Mouth ulcers
2. Asymptomatic Stage (lasts for years)
After the initial symptoms subside, most people enter a stage with no noticeable symptoms that can last for 10 years or more without treatment.
During this time, the virus continues to replicate and damage the immune system, even though you feel healthy.
3. Symptomatic HIV Infection (untreated)
- Weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea
- Persistent fever
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Skin problems
- Mouth sores
- Neurological problems
Who Is at Risk for HIV?
While anyone can contract HIV, certain individuals are considered at higher risk due to specific behaviors or circumstances. Here are some key factors:
Sexual Activity
Engaging in unprotected sexual activity (vaginal, anal, or oral sex) with someone who has HIV significantly increases your risk. Having multiple sexual partners or a partner with multiple partners also increases your risk.
Sharing Needles or Syringes
Sharing needles or syringes used for injecting drugs, steroids, or hormones with someone who has HIV is a major risk factor.
Mother-to-Child Transmission
An untreated HIV-positive mother can transmit the virus to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. However, with proper prenatal care, treatment, and interventions, the risk of transmission can be significantly reduced to nearly zero.
Other Risk Factors
- Individuals with certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or bacterial vaginosis, may have an increased risk of contracting HIV due to increased inflammation in the genital tissues.
- People who have been exposed to infected blood or bodily fluids through occupational settings or medical procedures (though this risk is extremely low in developed countries with appropriate safety measures).
It's important to remember that knowing your risk factors is crucial, but it does not guarantee your HIV status. The only way to know for sure is to get tested.
Get Tested for HIV
Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for managing HIV and living a long, healthy life.
Remember, the absence of symptoms doesn't guarantee you're HIV-negative. Get tested if you're at risk, regardless of whether you experience symptoms. Protect yourself and others from HIV by getting tested today.
