HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, affects about 36 million people worldwide, reports the Mayo Clinic. An infectious disease, HIV is spread through sharing needles, sexual contact or receiving infected blood and eventually leads to a variety of symptoms.

Time Frame

In some cases, patients develop flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of becoming infected with HIV, reports the Mayo Clinic. These typically subside and patients may remain symptom free for nine years or more before developing later symptoms.

Types

The early flu-like symptoms of HIV include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash. Symptoms that develop years later include frequent illness or bacteria or viral infections and other signs like chronic diarrhea, fever, shortness of breath and weight loss.

Risks

The last stage of the HIV infection occurs approximately 10 years or more after infection when your counts of certain white blood cells become severely depleted. Symptoms in this stage include night sweats, shaking chills and persistent fatigue.

When to See a Doctor

Because symptoms may take years to develop, see your doctor anytime you feel you may have been exposed to HIV, such as after having unprotected sex or sharing a needle. Medications are now available to help slow the progression of HIV, making prompt medical attention crucial, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Warning

Because symptoms may take a long time to develop, never assume that a sexual partner does not have HIV simply because they have no symptoms. Even when symptoms are not present, it is still possible to transmit the virus to another person, making it crucial to always practice safe sex through the use of condoms, warns the Mayo Clinic.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: HIV/AIDS

U.S. National Library of Medicine: HIV Infection