Symptoms In its early stages, HIV infection has noaa

Symptoms

In its early stages, HIV infection has no symptoms or causes only a flu-like illness with many of the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, rash, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, headaches and joint pain. Although 50% to 90% of people experience symptoms within the first few weeks of contracting HIV infection, most people and doctors dismiss the illness as a routine cold or flu. In a small number of cases, this early stage of infection may progress to meningitis (inflammation of membranes covering the brain) or other severe flulike symptoms that require hospitalization.

As the number of CD4 cells drops below normal (800 to 1,200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood), the person may begin to develop swollen lymph nodes and skin problems, such as seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), new or worsening psoriasis and minor infections. Ulcers can develop around the mouth.

Over the next few years, as CD4 cells continue to die, skin problems and mouth ulcers develop more often. Recurring herpes and varicella-zoster infections (shingles) can occur. Many people develop diarrhea, fever, unexplained weight loss, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. Old tuberculosis infections may reactivate even before AIDS develops. (Tuberculosis is one of the most common AIDS-related infections in the developing world.)