Signs and Symptoms: The symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary, depending on the phase of infection.

Within the first few weeks When first infected with HIV, you may have no signs or symptoms at all, although you're still able to transmit the virus to others. Many people develop a brief flu-like illness two to four weeks after becoming infected. Signs and symptoms may include: Fever Headache Sore throat Swollen lymph glands Rash Years later You may remain symptom-free for years. But as the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic symptoms such as: Swollen lymph nodes often one of the first signs of HIV infection Diarrhea Weight loss Fever Cough and shortness of breath Progression to AIDS If you receive no treatment for your HIV infection, the disease typically progresses to AIDS in about 10 years. By the time AIDS develops, your immune system has been severely damaged, making you susceptible to opportunistic infections diseases that wouldn't trouble a person with a healthy immune system. The signs and symptoms of some of these infections may include: Soaking night sweats Shaking chills or fever higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks

Cough and shortness of breath Chronic diarrhea Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth Headaches Persistent, unexplained fatigue Blurred and distorted vision Weight loss Skin rashes or bumps http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/aids/signs_and_symptoms.html *WHAT HAPPENS IF IM HIV POSITIVE? You might not know if you get infected by HIV. Some people get fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomach ache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash for one or two weeks. Most people think its the flu. Some people have no symptoms. Fact Sheet 103 has more information on the early stage of HIV infection.

The virus will multiply in your body for a few weeks or even months before your immune system responds. During this time, you wont test positive for HIV, but you can infect other people.

When your immune system responds, it starts to make antibodies. When this happens, you will test positive for HIV.

After the first flu-like symptoms, some people with HIV stay healthy for ten years or longer. But during this time, HIV is damaging your immune system.

One way to measure the damage to your immune system is to count your CD4 cells you have. These cells, also called T-helper cells, are an important part of the immune system. Healthy people have between 500 and 1,500 CD4 cells in a milliliter of blood. Fact Sheet 124 has has more information on CD4 cells.

Without treatment, your CD4 cell count will most likely go down. You might start having signs of HIV disease like fevers, night sweats, diarrhea, or swollen lymph nodes. If you have HIV disease, these problems will last more than a few days, and probably continue for several weeks.