The only way to know if you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You cannot rely on symptoms of HIV to know whether or not you are infected. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for 10 years or more.

The following may be warning signs of advanced HIV infection:

rapid weight loss
dry cough
recurring fever or profuse night sweats
profound and unexplained fatigue
swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
white spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat
pneumonia
red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth, nose, or eyelids
memory loss, depression, and other neurological disorders

HIV generally does not give symptoms on the onset of the disease. But people who have symptoms may mistake the signs as flu.

Some of the common symptoms are:

Headache
Fever
Skin rash
Sore throat.
Muscle aches and joint pain
Swollen glands (swollen lymph nodes)

The symptoms may appear couple of days to several weeks after an individual is infected. The early symptoms may usually fade away after two to three weeks.

After the symptoms fade away, the infected individual may not exhibit the symptoms again for several years but even without the symptoms, the virus continues to grow in the body and it continue to attack the body�s immune system.

Then after some time, the symptoms may reappear again but this time the symptoms may remain.

The HIV signs include:

Weight loss
Night sweats
Swollen lymph nodes
Extreme tiredness.
Fever

If the symptoms continue to last, the doctor will then make tests to confirm the presence of HIV.

Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) do not really give symptoms on the beginning stage of the disease oftentimes the people who have the symptoms may mistake it as signs of flu.

Some of the symptoms of HIV are:

1. Fever
2. Headache
3. Sore throat
4. Skin rash
5. Swollen glands (swollen lymph nodes)
6. Muscle aches and joint pains

These symptoms usually appear only from couple of days to some several weeks after the person becomes infected but the early symptoms usually disappear after 2 to 3 weeks.

After these symptoms disappear, the infected person may not know he or she is already infected as the symptoms may disappear only to appear again after several years. But even it do not exhibit symptoms, the virus continue to increase inside the body thus weakening the immune system.

The HIV signs that may reappear and will likely to stay may include:

1. Weight loss
2. Night sweats
3. Extreme tiredness.
4. Fever
5. Swollen lymph nodes

If the symptoms continue to persists, the attending physician will then decide to make the patient undergo series of test to determine the presence of HIV/AIDS.

Understanding Signs of HIV Recommended Resources:

University of California

Botswana HSPH AIDS Initiative