11 HIV Symptoms Every Woman Should Keep On Her Radar.
What if I told you that early HIV symptoms actually feel more like a common cold than
anything else?
"Most people who get infected don't even know.
It's only in hindsight they recognize the symptoms," says Michael Horberg, M.D., director
of HIV/AIDS for Kaiser Permanente.
During the first few weeks after infection (a stage known as acute HIV infection or acute
retroviral syndrome), some people notice things like fever, aches, and sore throat.
But after acute infection, patients move into clinical latency stage, or chronic HIV, which
is largely symptom-free.
A refresher: HIV (a.k.a. human immunodeficiency virus) is an incurable virus that attacks
your body's immune system.
It can be passed on through bodily fluids like semen, blood, and breast milk; though,
not through saliva.
When it comes HIV prevention, the CDC recommends using condoms or possibly exploring new medications
like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which aim to prevent the
transmission of HIV.
While there is no cure for the disease, most HIV patients can still love long, healthy
lives thanks to antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatments.
However, left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome),
which can make you even more susceptible to severe illnesses and eventually lead to death.
The only way to really know whether you have HIV is to get tested (which you should be
doing at least once a year if you're sexually active and have unprotected sex).
There are two options for anonymous and confidential home testing, but you need to make sure your
tests are FDA-approved and be aware that results are not always accurate (and may require a
follow-up test if positive).
Since early detection of HIV can prolong your lifespan and reduce your transmission rates,
it's important to be aware of the potential symptoms (as well as the fact that, in most
cases, there are no symptoms).
Here's what you need to know about HIV symptoms in women:
1.
You have a fever and chills.
A low-grade fever —99.5 to 101 F—accompanied by chills is one of the more common HIV symptoms
you might notice.
"Your body is trying to fight a foreign body that isn't supposed to be there, in
this case ineffectively," says Horberg.
While raising your body temperature does actually kill some weaker viruses, like the flu, it's
not enough to wipe out HIV.
The fever usually lasts for a week or two, but it can pop up for just a day.
"If there's any chance you could have been infected, get tested," Horberg adds.
2.
You're always waking up with night sweats.
Getting damp on a muggy night without air conditioning is definitely not the same as
night sweats, which result in puddles of sweat that'll make you want to change your sheets.
"The body is trying to release off toxins," says Horberg.
Although HIV can cause night sweats, plenty of other potential culprits do as well, including
menopause, mononucleosis, and cancers like lymphoma and leukemia, says Horberg.
So if you're soaking your sheets over the course of a few nights, definitely check in
with your doctor.
3.
You're breaking out in a rash.
Some people who experience HIV symptoms notice a light red rash all over their bodies, including
their arms, torso, and legs—although it can appear in just one or two spots.
"It's a general redness, not discrete red bumps.
If you've ever had a drug reaction rash, it's similar to that," says Horberg.
It usually lasts at least a week, and most patients say it's not itchy; it's a reaction
to fever along with your body's natural inflammation response as it fights off infection.
4.
Your throat is so sore.
An inflammatory response to a serious viral infection can also cause your throat to become
inflamed, making it hard to swallow.
But unlike strep, your doctor won't spot patches of white, just redness and inflammation
like you'd get with a cold.
"Lots of viruses affect your throat," says Horberg; but if you're concerned about HIV,
it's best to see a doctor about this one.
5.
You feel sleepy and achy all over.
You might feel generally uncomfortable (and really fatigued) for at least a week after
you're first infected with HIV, says Horberg.
It's an unrelenting exhaustion—even going to work or just sticking to your daily routine
will be a chore.
"Everything hurts.
It's hard to move, and you just can't make yourself comfortable," says Horberg.
"Your body is fighting the HIV virus, and it's tired."
6.
Your neck—and armpits, and groin—are swollen.
Your lymph nodes—located in your neck, armpits, and groin—manufacture infection-fighting
cells, and they're working overtime at the same time they're under direct attack from
HIV.
That's why over a third of people who've been exposed to the virus notice these glands
appear bigger than normal, explains Horberg.
If you feel several swollen lymph nodes in different locations, it's definitely a symptom
to check with your doctor stat.
7.
You have a yeast infection.
Yeast are microscopic fungi that naturally live in your mouth and vagina.
When you're first infected with HIV, however, they can grow out of control, causing a yeast
infection.
"Your body's own natural ability to fight other infections is being attacked," says
Horberg.
That said, conditions like diabetes also commonly cause yeast infections—and some women without
any underlying diseases simply get yeast infections more often than others.
So check in with your doc for treatment; if you think there's a chance you could have
recently been infected with HIV, ask if you should get tested.
8.
You have a canker sore.
Canker sores (a.k.a. mouth ulcers) are tender, round, whitish pits in the lining of your
mouth—and they can be caused by inflammation as your body tries to fight off HIV, says
Horberg.
They often cause a stinging sensation, and are more sensitive to acidic foods like lemons.
It should be noted, however, that canker sores happen for a variety of different reasons
too, like stress, food allergies, or hormonal changes.
9.
You start losing weight unexpectedly.
In its later stages, untreated HIV causes what's known as wasting, or loss of fat
and muscle mass, because the virus causes you to lose your appetite and prevents your
body from absorbing nutrients, says Horberg.
While the exact amount you'll shed varies, it's noticeable and often happens over a
long period of time.
"Often your friends and loved ones will comment that you're wasting away," says
Horberg.
"Typically, it doesn't happen in patients who have been treated well with modern medicines."
10.
You actually get diagnosed with meningitis.
As HIV disseminates through your central nervous system, it can cause viral meningitis, a swelling
of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord, says Amesh Adalja, M.D., an infectious
disease expert at Johns Hopskins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
According to the CDC, common symptoms of viral meningitis include fever, irritability, lethargy,
and vomiting.
Cryptococcal meningitis is also commonly associated with HIV infections, though usually in later
stages or in patients with AIDS.
Most people are exposed to the cryptococcus fungus at some point, but a weakened immune
system can't fight off exposure the way a healthy one can.
11.
Your stomach feels off.
A trio of gastrointestinal symptoms—diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting—may also be a marker
for initial HIV infection, says Amruta Padhye, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at
the University of Missouri Health Care.
"With rising viremia [levels of virus in the blood], the immune system is in a state
of hyperactivation," she explains.
Bottom line?
Your GI distress might not be just a stomach bug, so get it checked out if you're at
risk for HIV.
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