What are the first symptoms of AIDS?

What are the symptoms of HIV infection?
Often for several years, HIV infection is not accompanied by any symptoms. The absence of a symptom does not mean that the virus is not active. As soon as it enters the body, the virus begins to multiply and invade the different cells of the body.

When HIV is infected, there is no automatic symptom onset. Some people develop symptoms that may occur in the weeks following HIV infection. These are symptoms reminiscent of a flu: temperature, discomfort, high fatigue, possibly swollen lymph nodes, but also ulcers of the mouth or genital mucous, a rash.

After one or two weeks, these symptoms disappear. HIV, it is always present and it continues to spread in the body and to slowly destroy the immune system (defense of the body).

At first, even without medication, the body managed to keep control over the virus. After a while, the viruses take over (sometimes momentarily) and the immune defenses no longer manage to protect the body. It is at this point that so-called opportunistic infections, certain cancers and neurological conditions appear. It is during the onset of these diseases in an HIV-infected person that they are said to be “sick of AIDS”.

It is almost impossible to spot HIV infection from a symptom. Nor can anyone guess whether a person is HIV-infected just to his or her appearance. The only way to find out is to do a screening.