Symptoms of HIV can include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers. Many people experience a flu-like illness 2 to 4 weeks after infection, though some have no symptoms at all. Symptoms vary by stage, and a definitive HIV test is the only way to confirm infection, as many other conditions can cause these symptoms.

Acute HIV infection (Primary HIV): This is the first stage of HIV infection, occurring 2 to 4 weeks after the virus enters the body. Some people experience a flu-like illness during this stage.

· Fever and chills

· Swollen lymph nodes (or glands)

· Fatigue

· Muscle and joint pain

· Sore throat and mouth sores

· Skin rash

· Night sweats

· Diarrhea

· Headache

Chronic HIV infection (Clinical latent infection) In this stage, the virus continues to multiply but at lower levels, and people may have no symptoms or only mild ones. This stage can last for many years without treatment.

Symptomatic HIV infection and AIDS As the infection progresses to AIDS, the immune system is severely weakened. This makes the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers. Symptoms at this stage can include:

· Frequent fevers and sweats

· Persistent diarrhea

· Persistent skin rashes or flaky skin

· Recurring yeast infections

· Mouth ulcers

· Chronic fatigue

· Unexplained weight loss

· Opportunistic infections like tuberculosis, certain cancers (such as Kaposi's sarcoma), and pneumonia

Important to know

· Symptoms vary: Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and some people may not have any symptoms at all, especially in the early stages.

· Testing is key: The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested.

· Other conditions: HIV symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses, so these symptoms alone cannot be used to diagnose HIV.

· Transmission: HIV can be passed to others at any stage of infection, even if a person has no symptoms.