HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It can seem similar to other viruses, such as the common cold or flu, but there is one major difference – your body can’t get rid of it. That means if you get HIV, you have it forever.
Symptoms of initial HIV infection can vary depending on the person. Some people never even develop symptoms after becoming infected with HIV, while others find themselves with a flu-like illness anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the initial exposure to the virus. Many people complain of having a fever (usually >38.5 Celsius), sore throat, headache, feeling tired, and having enlarged lymph glands in their necks.
The scary thing is that regardless if you have symptoms or not, HIV will attack the cells that normally defend your body from illness and will eventually lead to a weak immune system. If the infection is left untreated, it can destroy so many of these cells that your body can’t fight any other diseases or infections.
This is when you might contract opportunistic infections. Then people begin to develop more severe symptoms like drastic weight loss, persistent yeast infections, skin rashes, memory loss, and sores from herpes.
AIDS is the most advanced form of HIV infection. Symptoms of AIDS include coughing, shortness of breath, seizures, persistent diarrhea, vomiting, vision loss, rapid weight loss, severe headaches, and comas. After being diagnosed with AIDS, the average survival time is 2 years.
It is important to get HIV testing in Singapore and to seek medical attention immediately if HIV is suspected or detected. While there is no cure for HIV, with proper medical care and testing – the virus can be controlled. HIV testing ensures that infected people are diagnosed early on and can easily receive treatment to prevent progression of the disease.
If you suspect that you may be infected with HIV, it is essential that you get tested. If you find yourself looking up symptoms online, you should give yourself peace of mind and visit the nearest HIV clinic in Singapore.
Getting tested for HIV can be scary, but remember that the condition is treatable. If you test positive, early detection and steady monitoring of HIV will help your doctor determine the severity of the disease and come up with an effective treatment plan. After completing an HIV test in Singapore, whether at a hospital or clinic, you will have the opportunity to receive counseling so you can discuss your fears, learn about reducing your risks, learn how to keep from spreading the infection, and learn how to stay healthy.
20% of people with HIV have no idea that they are infected.
50% of new HIV transmissions are by infected people who have no idea that they are infected.
Early diagnosis and treatment of HIV can decrease the chances of transmission by 95%
Infected people that treat HIV early live on average 11 years longer than those who wait.
Take control of your future and visit the nearest HIV clinic in Singapore to conduct proper HIV testing.
Get HIV tested today.
Special Thanks: This is an invited, guest article researched and written by Maya, a talented writer with a kind soul.
Additional Information by Dr Vincent Chia
Question: What are the symptoms of acute (primary) HIV infection?
Acute HIV infection may or may not be symptomatic. As much as 50% to 90% of people infected with HIV develop symptoms approximately 6 days to 6 weeks after infection, but more commonly within the first 1 to 4 weeks. The symptoms usually last about two weeks, but can last for shorter or longer periods. It is frequently mistaken for flu, mononucleosis, or other non-specific viral syndrome. It has been shown that more severe symptoms of acute HIV infection correlate with a higher viral set point (higher viral load) and more rapid progression of disease.
Symptoms include:
- Fever (usually 38.3°C or 101°F or higher; occurs in 97%)
- Pharyngitis or Sore throat (73%)
- Rash (77%)
- Arthralgia (joint pain) and myalgia (muscle ache) (58%)
- Neurological symptoms (12%). Most common is headache.
- Oral/genital ulcerations
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Night sweats
- Thrush
Fever is the most common symptom. As these symptoms are frequent in other viral illnesses (e.g. flu), the diagnosis of acute HIV illness is often missed, and the patient is discharged with a false sense of security.
Having these symptoms does not mean that you have HIV infection. The only way to know for certain is to get tested for HIV.
Be sure to get your rapid HIV testing and other STD screening done in our clinic in Central Singapore, conveniently located near Telok Blangah MRT station.
