hiv symptoms

Early Warning Signs

21 HIV Symptoms

HIV symptoms vary depending on the stage of infection. Early symptoms, often appearing within weeks of infection, are similar to the flu and include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Some individuals may experience no symptoms during the initial stage.

Stages of HIV Symptoms

It often starts with a fever that feels like nothing serious. But over time, things can change. Understanding the stages of HIV symptoms can help you take action early. With regular HIV testing, timely treatment, or PrEP, you can stay in control and protect your health

01. Early Stage

Two to four weeks after exposure to HIV, early symptoms like fever, rashes, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes may appear. Many mistake these HIV symptoms for the flu. If you

02. Clinical Latency

Chronic HIV infection, also called asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency, is the second stage of HIV after the initial acute phase. During this stage, HIV is still active in the

03. Late Stage

AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is the final and most severe stage of HIV infection. At this point, HIV has caused serious damage to the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable

Don’t Guess. Get Tested.

You can’t rely

on symptoms alone

Don’t be afraid. If you test positive, you can take HIV medicine to stay healthy and prevent passing the virus to others. If you’re negative, you have options like PrEP and PEP to stay that way. If you’re pregnant, early treatment can protect your baby. Use the HIV Services Locator to find a nearby testing site.

HIV Symptoms quiz

Patient Stories

I’d been feeling off for months, tired, weak, something was just wrong. After the test, I was started on hiv treatment. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, but within weeks, my symptoms disappeared. It was like I was finally myself again.

Ellis. O

Blogger

Man, I was young, healthy. It never crossed my mind. But when fatigue hit hard, my girl said, ‘Get checked.’ I found a spot for HIV testing near me. Doc said catching it early was key, and started HIV treatment immediately. Now I’m stronger.

Marcus. T

Diagnosed 2023

I was afraid at first, and I didn’t want to go to a clinic so I won’t bump into anyone that know me, or answer too many questions. So I searched quietly for options on Google and found a hiv home test kit. It arrived fast, was easy to use, and settled my worries.