Hi,
if a person became infected with hiv,
after the initial symptoms (if any) are
there any other symtoms or do the later
symtoms of hiv take longer to occur, if so
how long after the initial symptoms do the
later ones occur? Sorry if that is
confusing? Also how long, on average do
the initial symtpoms last for? This is my
head being paranoid but any replys would
be useful! Thankyou...
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Finess150
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 191 Location: Kent, UK
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Symptoms Posted: 02-03-06 07:48am
1summer,
hiv symptoms are
notoriously elusive. In many cases, there
are no symptoms until many years
afterwards.
However, after initial ars symptoms, it
is possible to identify certain symptoms
attributable to hiv.
The virus itself harbours itself within
the brain, lymph system and other organs,
where it mutates. This means that the
body's immune system must keep forming a
new defense against it (which eventually
leads to the break down of the immune
system). Occassionally, this means that
the lymph nodes will swell for a time.
That is one symptom.
Another is drenching night sweats.
But these symptoms usually occur later on
in the disease, and most of the time,
could not be identified.
When a person is on medication, the drugs
themselves can cause similar symptoms
which are troublesome in themselves, such
as the night sweats, headaches, nausea
etc.
Now, I hope you are not speculating on
any symptoms you might have, because as
i've said many times before, hiv can
never, ever be diagnosed by symptoms.
Only a test three months after exposure
can do that.
1summer, i've been rereading your
previous post. Your risk was extremely
low from what you describe. It would not
be classified as unprotected sex. But
more importantly, you did have a test
after the definitive time of three months
and it was negative. You are negative. I
will repeat. You. Are. Hiv.
Negative.
Finally, initial symptoms can last around
two weeks. On average, someone who
becomes infected may experience ars
symptoms 22 days after exposure. This
means they are seroconverting to hiv+
status, and a test will confirm this. We
wait 3 months for definitive tests because
that is the longest possible time
researched for someone to seroconvert; but
much more often than not, a person will
seroconvert about 3 weeks after exposure
and test positive after that.
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1summer
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Portsmouth
Posted: 02-04-06 03:14am
Thankyou 1finess!
Once again your knowledge and advice is
excellent! I know I need to stop worrying
and just get on but it is difficult
because I feel so stupid and hate the fact
that I could have been so foolish,
thankyou again for you reply. Take care x
