Early Stage HIV Symptoms

It was announced in 1997 that researchers had discovered a simple set of early stage HIV symptoms. These symptoms were found to be present in sufferers who were yet to test positive on a blood test. Those in the very early stages of acute HIV infection will not have developed enough HIV antibodies to become detectable in a blood test. If you are concerned you might have HIV and have taken a test that has been negative, then these symptoms could be the warning sign that you will need to get tested again later on.

The acute stage of HIV is the period from which a person a first infected with HIV to when their body develops antibodies to fight the infection. This is usually between 6 and 12 weeks. The early stage HIV symptoms develop during this acute stage and once antibodies are developed the infected person will usually start to feel better even though they are still infected because the antibodies will reduce the initial impact of the virus.

Early stage HIV symptoms include fevers, chills, sudden night sweats, rashes and other flu like symptoms. Most people will encounter some of these symptoms and dismiss them as a common cold or flu because they can be very mild. Others will not notice or suffer these symptoms at all. If you suspect you have early stage HIV symptoms or that you have HIV then seek medical advice immediately for a HIV antibody test. Only a HIV antibody blood test will be able to confirm if you have HIV or not.