Early Symptoms of HIV You Should Never Ignore

When many people think of symptoms of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), they often picture someone in the late stages of HIV. In reality, early symptoms of HIV are less obvious, and people in the early stage of HIV might look otherwise healthy to others.

HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system. Left untreated, HIV makes the body more susceptible to infections and diseases. (Here’s more information about how HIV and AIDS affect the body.)

HIV has three stages, and the symptoms of HIV vary by stage.

The first stage of HIV

The first stage is acute HIV infection. During this stage, the virus is rapidly attacking the body’s T-cells, according to hematologist Jeffrey Laurence, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

As the body attempts to fight back, 40 to 90 percent of patients will experience flu-like symptoms. This includes high fever and muscle and joint pain, as well as headaches, diarrhea, sore throat, and skin lesions.

These early HIV symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after exposure and last three or four weeks. Keep in mind that not everyone with HIV will develop these early-stage symptoms, however.

The second stage of HIV

The second stage of HIV is called clinical latency. During this HIV stage, the reproduction of the virus slows down and those early HIV symptoms subside. However, HIV is still active.

This stage can last for years or even decades. In fact, in the United States today, most people with HIV never go on to develop AIDS. The life expectancy for HIV patients is nearly identical to that of people without HIV as long as they adhere to to their medication regimens.

Patients in this phase may not experience any obvious HIV symptoms, but they are still able to transmit HIV to others. During this time, a patient with HIV is more susceptible to “opportunistic illnesses,” such as cancers, infections, pneumonia, yeast infections, and more.

The third stage of HIV

The third stage of HIV is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. This diagnosis is made when a patient’s T cell count drops below 200. Once patients have progressed to the AIDS stage, their life expectancy is around three years without treatment, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If you notice severe, unexplained flu-like symptoms that last multiple weeks, it is crucial to get an HIV test as soon as possible. This is especially important if you have recently engaged in high-risk sex or used shared needle. While getting diagnosed with HIV can be scary, early treatment is life-changing.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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