Knowing your HIV status early will help you to keep yourself and your partner healthy. The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. You can’t rely on symptoms to tell whether you have HIV.

Early detection of HIV can help ensure prompt treatment to control the virus and prevent progression into stage 3 HIV. Most people develop detectable HIV antibodies within 23 to 90 days after infection. Stage 3 HIV is more commonly known as AIDS. Early treatment using antiretroviral drugs also makes the virus undetectable, which can prevent transmission to other people.

Early symptoms of HIV

There are several symptoms of HIV. Not everyone will have the same symptoms. It depends on the person and what stage of the disease they are in. The early signs of HIV may appear as symptoms similar to those caused by the flu.

Below are the three stages of HIV and some of the symptoms people may experience.

Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection

Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, about two-thirds of people will have a flu-like illness. This is the body’s natural response to HIV infection. Some people may experience no early symptoms after they’ve contracted HIV. It’s important to remember that these early HIV symptoms are also associated with common illnesses and health conditions. Don’t assume you have HIV just because you have any of these symptoms But if you think you may have been exposed to HIV, Get Tested.

Flu-like early symptoms of Hiv:

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Rash
• Night sweats
• Muscle aches & Joint pain
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph
• Mouth ulcers
• Ulcers on the genitals

Note: when you are in the early stage of infection, you are at very high risk of transmitting HIV to others.

Stage 2: Clinical Latency

People in this stage may not feel sick or have any symptoms. This stage is also called chronic HIV infection. In this stage, the virus still multiplies, but at very low levels. Without HIV treatment, people can stay in this stage for 10 to 15 years, but some move through this stage faster.

Stage 3: AIDS

If you have HIV and you are not on HIV treatment, eventually the virus will weaken your body’s immune system and you will progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). This is the late stage of HIV infection.