7 Symptoms of the early stages of HIV

Symptoms of HIV can vary between individuals however the first signs of infection generally appear within the first 1-2 months. Many, but not all, people will experience severe flu-like symptoms which is your body’s natural response to the virus. This is called the ‘seroconversion’ period.Many people don't even know they are infected until years after they are first exposed to the virus.

It’s during this time that it’s crucial to identify if HIV is the cause, as your viral load is very high which greatly increases the risk of passing it on. And the only way to know for sure is by getting tested.

Symptom 1: Fever

Fever is usually one of the first symptoms of HIV. When you have a fever your body temperature increases above a normal range, and often results in sweating, chills and shivering. Fever is often accompanied by other mild symptoms, such as fatigue, swollen lymph glands, and a sore throat. At this point the virus is moving into the blood stream and starting to replicate in large numbers. As that happens, your immune system induces an inflammatory reaction.