Symptoms

The symptoms of HIV depend on the phase of infection. A person can still transmit HIV even if they do not have symptoms.

Early infection
When first infected with HIV, you may have no signs or symptoms at all, although it’s more common to develop a brief flu-like illness two to four weeks after becoming infected. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph glands
• Rash

Later infection
You may remain symptom-free for eight or nine years or more. But as the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic symptoms such as:

• Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Cough and shortness of breath

Latest phase of infection
During the last phase of HIV — which occurs approximately 10 or more years after the initial infection — more serious symptoms may begin to appear, and the infection may then meet the official definition of AIDS.

• Soaking night sweats
• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks
• Dry cough and shortness of breath
• Chronic diarrhea
• Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth
• Headaches
• Blurred and distorted vision
• Weight loss

You may also begin to experience signs and symptoms of later stage HIV infection itself, such as:

• Persistent, unexplained fatigue
• Soaking night sweats
• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks
• Swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months
• Chronic diarrhea
• Persistent headaches

Symptoms of HIV in children
Children who are HIV-positive may experience:

• Difficulty gaining weight
• Difficulty growing normally
• Problems walking
• Delayed mental development
• Severe forms of common childhood illnesses such as ear infections (otitis media), pneumonia and tonsillitis