HIV Symptoms Singapore | HIV PEP
HIV Symptoms in Singapore: HIV is a viral infection that weakens the immune system and makes you unable to combat other infections. HIV is commonly caused by unprotected sex.
Symptoms of HIV
The symptoms of HIV infection may vary, and depend on the phase of the infection.
In the primary infection stage, which begins a few weeks after the exposure, most people experience mild symptoms that often go unnoticed. Some of the symptoms are:
- Diarrhea
- Swollen glands, particularly in the neck
- Fever
- Headache
- Profuse night sweats and chills
- Mouth and/or genital ulcers
- Muscle ache and joint pain
- Rashes
The primary infection stage is followed by the latent phase, in which no noticeable symptoms are observed. In some people, persistent swelling of neck glands (lymph nodes) may be present. The latent phase of the infection may last for 8-10 years or even longer.
In the early symptomatic HIV infection, the virus has destroyed enough immune cells to render the person vulnerable to opportunistic illnesses, which are caused by organisms that are normally fought off by a healthy immune system. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, fever, persistent diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, cough, fatigue, and weight loss.
Untreated HIV infection will eventually progress to AIDS, after a period of about 10 years (although the length of time can vary widely). At this point, it has caused catastrophic damage to the immune system, and the patient becomes vulnerable to many opportunistic infections. Some of the symptoms of AIDS are headaches, chronic diarrhea, profuse night sweats, cough, white lesion of the mouth, unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, chills, weight loss, skin rashes and blurred vision. AIDS is fatal.