Symptoms: What Is HIV?

Some people develop symptoms shortly after
being infected. On average, it takes more
than 10 years.
There are several stages of HIV disease. The
first symptoms of HIV disease are often
swollen lymph glands in the throat, armpit,
or groin. Other early symptoms include slight
fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and
swollen glands. They may only last for a few
weeks then there are usually no symptoms
for many years.
Later HIV/AIDS symptoms
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a
virus that attacks cells that help the body
fight infection, making a person more
vulnerable to other infections and diseases.
It is spread by contact with
certain bodily fluids of a
person with HIV, most
commonly during
unprotected sex (sex without
a condom or
HIV medicine to prevent or
treat HIV), or through
sharing injection
drug equipment.

 Thrush (a thick, white coating on your

tongue or mouth)
 Sore throat What Is AIDS?
 Bad yeast infections
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is
 Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease   disease you get when HIV destroys your
 Getting bad infections, a lot body’s immune system.
 Feeling really tired, dizzy, and Normally, your immune
lightheaded system helps you fight off illness.
When your immune system
 Headaches
falls you can become
 Losing lots of weight quickly very sick and can die.
 Bruising more easily than normal
 Having diarrhea, fevers, or night
sweats for a long time BY: STIFFANY MAE N. ALVAREZ
 Swollen or firm glands in your throat,
armpit, or groin.
  Deep, dry coughing spells
 Feeling short of breath
 Purplish growths on your skin or
inside your mouth
 Bleeding from the mouth, nose, anus,
or vagina
 Skin rashes
 Feeling very numb in your hands or
feet, losing control of your muscles
and reflexes, not being able to move,
and losing strength in your muscles
Ways it is transmitted:
 By having unprotected sex, sex
without condom, with someone who
has HIV. The virus can be in an
infected person’s blood, semen, of
vaginal secretions and can enter your
body through tiny cuts or sores in
your skin, or in the lining of your
vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth.
 By sharing a needle and syringe to
inject drugs or sharing drug
equipment used to prepare drugs for
injection with someone who has HIV.
 From a blood transfusion or blood
clotting factor.
Ways it is not transmitted:
 You can't become infected
with HIV through ordinary contact.
That means you can't
catch HIV or AIDS by hugging, kissing,
dancing or shaking hands with
someone who has the infection.
 HIV isn't spread through the air,
water or insect bites.
How do I know if I have HIV?
A blood test can tell if you have HIV infection.
Your health care provider can do the test, or
you can use a home testing kit. You can also
use the CDC Testing Locator to find free
testing sites.
What are the treatments for
HIV/AIDS?
There is no cure for HIV infection, but it can
be treated with medicines. This is called
antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART can make
HIV infection a manageable chronic
condition. It also reduces the risk of
spreading the virus to others.
Most people with HIV live long and healthy
lives if they get and stay on ART. It's also
important to take care of yourself. Making
sure that you have the support you need,
living a healthy lifestyle, and getting regular
medical care can help you enjoy a better
quality of life.
Prevention
The secured way is to abstain from sexual
intercourse and from sharing needles and
"work". If you use steroids, hormones, or
other drugs.
If you choose to have sexual intercourse:
 Consider your partner’s HIV status.
Does your partner share needles?
 Have safer sex to reduce the risk of
exchanging blood, semen, or vaginal
fluids with your sex partner(s).
If you are using needles for steroids,
hormones, or other drugs:
 Do not share needles.
 Get into a needle-exchange program.
 Be sure to disinfect the needles you
use.
Don’t share personal items that may be
soiled with blood:
 This includes toothbrushes, razors,
needles for piercing or tattooing and
blades for cutting or scissors.