Symptoms related to HIV are usually

Symptoms

Symptoms related to HIV are usually due to an infection in part of the body. Some symptoms related to HIV infection include:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Frequent vaginal yeast infections
• Headache
• Mouth sores, including yeast infection (thrush)
• Muscle stiffness or aching
• Rash of different types, including seborrheic dermatitis
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph glands

Note: When they are diagnosed with HIV infection, many people have not had any symptoms.

Exams and Tests

The HIV ELISA and HIV Western blot tests detect antibodies to the HIV virus in the blood. Both tests must be positive to confirm an HIV infection. Having these antibodies means you are infected with HIV.

• If the test is negative (no antibodies found) and you have risk factors for HIV infection, you should be retested in 3 months.
• If the HIV ELISA and HIV Western blot tests are positive, other blood tests can be done to determine how much HIV is in your bloodstream.

A complete blood count (CBC) and white blood cell differential may also show abnormalities.

A lower-than-normal CD4 cell count may be a sign that the virus is damaging your immune system.

Treatment

Doctors often recommend drug therapy for patients who are committed to taking all their medications and have a CD4 count below 500 cells/mm³ (indicating their immune system is suppressed). Some people, including pregnant women and people with kidney or neurological problems related to HIV, may need treatment regardless of their CD4 count.

It is extremely important for people with HIV to take all doses of their medications, otherwise the virus may become resistant to the drugs. Therapy always involves a combination of antiviral drugs. Pregnant women with HIV infection are treated to reduce the chance of transmitting HIV to their babies.

People with HIV infection need to become educated about the disease and treatment so that they can be active participants in making decisions with their health care provider.