ARS or Acute retroviral syndrome is an acute attack by flulike symptoms two to three months after a HIV infection. Sometimes HIV symptoms don't appear for years after infection. In the first stages of infection, there are usually no visible symptoms. One in five people in the United States with HIV doesn't know they have it and with the ever rising statistics of unprotected sex, it is very important that one gets tested if he is sexually active.
Here are some clear HIV symptoms that you need to look out for.
Fever
One of the first signs of ARS can be a mild fever, up to about 102 degrees F.
But the fever alone cannot be a clear revealing symptom. If it occurs at all, is often accompanied by other usually mild symptoms, such as fatigue, swollen lymph glands, and a sore throat.
This is the point where the virus is moving into the blood stream and starting to replicate in large numbers and as that happens; there is an inflammatory reaction by the immune system.
Fatigue
This inflammatory response can cause you to feel tired and lethargic. Fatigue can be both an early and later sign of HIV.
Achy muscles, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes
Many of HIV symptoms are the same as those of flu, mononucleosis, or another viral infection, even syphilis or hepatitis and might therefore be very confusing which may include pain in the joints and muscles and swollen lymph glands. Lymph nodes are part of your body's immune system and tend to get inflamed when there's an infection. Many of them are located in your armpit, groin, and neck.
Sore throat and headache
As with other symptoms, sore throat and headache can often be recognized as ARS only in context, Dr. Horberg says. A HIV test is a good idea and is good not only for your own sake but also for others as HIV is most infectious in the earliest stage.
Skin rash
Rashes can occur early or late in the course of HIV/AIDS.
They form like boils, with some itchy pink areas on your body. If you develop rashes that are not easily explained or easily treated, you should think about having an HIV test.
Keep in mind that the body hasn't produced antibodies to HIV yet so an antibody test may not pick it up so you need to wait for a few more weeks or up to three months.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Anywhere from 30% to 60% of people have short-term nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in the early stages of HIV. These symptoms can also appear as a result of antiretroviral therapy and later in the infection, usually as the result of an opportunistic infection.