Early Symptoms of HIV
HIV Symptoms
High fever
Sore throat
Headache
Rash
Chest infection or cough
Mouth ulcers
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Large lymph glands (neck, armpits and groins)
Pains in the joints or muscles
The major symptoms generally occur in the first 2 to 4 weeks after infection but the symptoms of early HIV infections do not always appear in 70% of the patients who we treat at The Wright Practice. Symptoms are known to develop between 2 to 12 weeks after possible exposure to HIV but you will only become HIV positive if the person you have had penetrative sex with is HIV positive.
You can see that the symptoms of HIV infection are very similar to the symptoms of any disease caused by infection such as tonsillitis, chest infection, influenza etc. All of these are much more common and it is much more likely that if you do have these that they are not early symptoms of HIV but symptoms due to something else. Anxiety itself is a powerful condition and can persuade people that they have symptoms which in fact they don’t.
Major Early HIV Symptoms
These three major symptoms/signs will almost always occur together in early HIV infection. Other HIV symptoms and signs are less suggestive of acute HIV infection.
Very high fever
A very sore throat
Whole body maculopapular rash
Acute Early HIV Symptoms
All of these symptoms and signs are very general and may be symptoms of other conditions or infections. Remember that you can only become HIV positive if you have been exposed to HIV in the first place.
Muscular aches and pains
Persistent headache
Mouth ulcers and sores
Abdominal pain
Vomiting and Diarrhoea
The important thing is to avoid putting yourself in a position where you might have to worry about the early symptoms of HIV, in general this means using a condom for penetrative sex – whether anal or vaginal. If you use a condom and it stays on and does not rip then the chances of HIV infection are almost zero.
If you don’t use a condom or it breaks then it might be an idea to consider using Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). This is a one month course of anti-HIV medications designed to try to interrupt new infections with HIV. It is best taken as early as possible after an unsafe episode. It is available from us, but is expensive privately, or free of charge from a GUM clinic or an Accident Dept in the UK.
Can I catch HIV from kissing?
No.
Can I catch HIV from sucking a penis?
Catching HIV from sucking a penis is very, very unlikely. There are a few cases reported worldwide but the best studies show a minimal to zero risk. The risk will change if the guy being sucked ejaculates or “cums” into your mouth, but still the risk has shown to be small.
Can I catch HIV from being sucked?
This is even less likely than sucking. I’m not aware of any case reports or any personal knowledge of that.
Can I catch HIV from licking a vagina?
Again catching HIV from licking a vagina is very, very unlikely. The general consensus is that if the woman is bleeding then that will increase the risk but otherwise the risk is minimal.
If you are the female in this oral episode then there is virtually no risk of acquiring HIV this way.
Can I catch HIV from touching dried or cold semen – on a sex workers sheets or in a sex club?
No – not the most pleasant thing maybe but HIV is a fragile virus and requires ideal conditions to spread. Semen once dried or cold is not an HIV threat.
One thing you should remember is that other STD’s are much more efficient at spreading than HIV. They will if present together, increase the risk of picking up HIV. Using condoms reduces the risk of these as well.
