Symptoms of HIV/AIDS: Introduction
The symptoms of HIV infection are the result of HIV attacking the cells of the body's immune system. Early in the disease, many people with HIV infection have no symptoms. Some people may experience flu-like symptoms that occur about four to eight weeks after infection. Symptoms may include swollen glands, fever, headache and fatigue.
These symptoms generally go away within several weeks. There then may be no symptoms for months to as many as ten years or longer after HIV infection. Over this time, HIV gradually destroys the helper T cells of the immune system. This eventually results in symptoms, such as swollen glands that remain enlarged, fatigue, weight loss, recurring fever and yeast infections.
Eventually the immune system becomes so weak that other opportunistic infections and other serious complications occur. This stage is generally when a diagnosis of AIDS is made.
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