What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

While both men and women experience many of the same symptoms, women frequently must contend with some distinctively female signs of HIV infection such as:

• Persistent or severe vaginal infections particularly vaginal yeast infections.
• Pap smears that indicate cervical dysplasia or other abnormal changes.
• Pelvic infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID.)

Although women with HIV frequently experience these women’s health conditions, women without HIV also experience vaginal infections, abnormal Pap smears, and pelvic infections.

Other signs and symptoms that may indicate HIV infection include:

• Genital warts
• Genital ulcers
• Severe mucosal herpes infections

Frequently, within a few weeks of infection, both men and women experience flu-like symptoms. Others do not experience signs or symptoms of HIV or AIDS until several years later. This makes HIV testing imperative for those with current or previous high risk behaviors. Other symptoms often experienced as HIV/AIDS progresses include:

• Swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm area, or groin
• Frequent fevers that include night sweats
• Rapid weight loss without dieting
• Constant fatigue
• Decreased appetite and diarrhea
• White spots or abnormal blemishes in the mouth

Remember, the only way you can know whether or not you have HIV/AIDS is to get tested