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HIV symptoms

Most people who are infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs two to six weeks after infection. This initial illness is also known as seroconversion illness. It’s estimated that up to 80% of people who are infected with HIV experience this.

Symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Body rash
  • Tiredness
  • Swollen glands
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle pain

These symptoms are common for many conditions other than HIV, and do not necessarily mean you have the virus. If you experience any symptoms or have any concerns, please contact our GP or Spectrum’s sexual health clinics.

If you do have HIV, after the initial symptoms pass, you may not experience any other symptoms for many years.

However, the virus is still reproducing and damaging your immune system. Left untreated HIV will weaken the immune system significantly, causing a serious infection.

Possible symptoms of this include:

  • Tiredness
  • Night sweats
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Persistent diarrhoea
  • Thrush in the mouth
  • Swollen glands in the groin, neck or armpit that last for 3 months or more
  • Blurred vision
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