HIV symptoms

HIV is virus that is commonly spread through the exposure to infected blood and bodily fluids during sexual activity.

HIV infection can be diagnosed by assessing the clinical history of the patient: identifying risk factors: clinical assessment of signs and symptoms and by testing for HIV antibodies or for viral antigens.

Most people feel fine for the first five to ten years. After a long period of HIV infection without symptoms, however, the time comes when the person becomes ill.

Symptoms of HIV can take many forms. The earliest symptoms of HIV disease can include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, fatique, diarrhea, and weight loss Symptoms of HIV contributed to both primary and secondary malnutrition in people living with HIV.

Symptoms may impact on nutritional status by reducing the desire to eat, changing the types of foods consumed, reducing the amount of food eaten and by affecting the absorption and utilization of nutrients.

The most common early symptoms of HIV disease are:
*Bouts of fever and/or night sweats
*Shingles, which is a painful rash
*Tuberculosis
*Rashes or other skin conditions
*Thrush, which is an infection of the mouth and throat

Since HIV destroys the immune system, a person often gets many types of infection and these infections happen more often and get worse.

Some infections that may occur include yeast infections in the mouth or throat and serious infections caused by the herpes viruses.
HIV symptoms