How to Recognize HIV Symptoms

Do not ignore dry cough . This symptom appears in the late stages of HIV, sometimes years after the virus enters the body and smolders inside. This seemingly innocuous symptom is often easy to overlook, especially during allergy or cough and flu season. If your dry cough doesn’t improve after taking allergy medicine or an inhaler, it could be a symptom of HIV.

Look for irregularities (red, brown, pink, or purple) on the skin. People with late-stage HIV often develop skin rashes, especially on the face and trunk. The rash may appear in the mouth and nose. This is a sign that HIV is transforming into AIDS. ^[5]

• Red scaly skin is also a sign of late-stage HIV. The spots look like ulcers or lumps.
• A rash often accompanies a cold, so if you notice it occurring at the same time as other symptoms, you should see your doctor right away.

Note pneumonia. The disease often affects people with weakened immune systems for other reasons. Patients with end-stage HIV are often susceptible to bacterial pneumonia that usually does not cause such a severe reaction.

Watch out for fungal infections, especially in the mouth. End-stage HIV patients often have a fungal infection in their mouth called thrush. It causes white spots or other abnormalities on the tongue and in the mouth. This is a warning sign that the immune system is having trouble fighting infection.

Check nails for signs of mold. End stage HIV patients often have yellow or brown nails, cracked or chipped nails. Nails become susceptible to fungal infections that the body is normally resistant to.

Identify unexplained rapid weight loss. In the early stages of HIV, severe diarrhea may be the cause; In the late stages, the phenomenon is called “elimination,” and is the body’s strong response to the presence of HIV in the system.

Note memory loss, depression , or other neurological illness. HIV affects the cognitive function of the brain in late stages. These symptoms are often serious and need to be looked at.

Be aware of the risk of infection. You may encounter many situations that put you at risk for HIV. If you have experienced one of the following, you are at risk of infection:

• Backdoor, vaginal, or unsafe oral sex.
• Sharing needles.
• Diagnosis or treatment of a sexually transmitted disease (STD), tuberculosis, tuberculosis, or hepatitis.
• Blood transfusions from 1978 to 1985, years when precautions were not in place for the use of infected blood for transfusion.

Do not wait until symptoms appear to seek medical attention. Many people with HIV do not know they are infected. The virus can smolder in the body for ten years before symptoms begin. If you have reason to think that you may have HIV, you should seek medical attention as soon as you do not have any symptoms. You should detect it as soon as possible.