Know the Symptoms of HIV/AIDS

One thing that has allowed HIV infection to spread so far so fast is the lack of symptoms at first. Many people infected with HIV for 10 or more years have no symptoms of illness. They can still infect other people during this time unless they practice safe sex.

The only way to know if you are infected is to be tested. Because a test is a snapshot of your health at one given time, it is wise to be tested periodically. It can take three to five months from exposure to HIV infection to when HIV can be found in a blood test.

When HIV infection begins to make an impact on a person’s immune system, he or she may show signs such as:

	A deep tiredness that cannot be explained
	A dry cough
	A fever that comes and goes
	Blotches that can be red, brown, pink or purplish under the skin or inside the mouth, nose or eyelids
	Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
	Heavy night sweats
	Memory loss, depression or other neurological disorders
	Rapid weight loss
	Swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin or neck
	White spots or odd blemishes on the tongue, mouth or throat

Having these symptoms doesn’t mean a person has HIV or AIDS. Many illnesses have symptoms like these. Only an HIV test can make certain whether a person has HIV or not.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation operates the largest private Rapid 20 Minute HIV and STD testing program in California. It also offers testing in Florida and Washington, DC. These testing facilities can be found in a variety of settings, including mobile vans. To learn more about this confidential testing program, log onto www.freehivtest.net.  You can also call (213) 405-5800 for more information.

The National HIV Testing Resources website also provides help in finding an HIV testing site. To get information by telephone, the Centers for Disease Control have a hotline at 1 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It offers information in English and en Español. These resources are confidential as well.

You can also ask your health care provider to give you an HIV test.

As with other diseases, the earlier HIV infection is discovered, the more effectively it can be treated.