MBBS, DDV, FCPS, APEX, Diplomat American Board of Sexology
HIV Specialist, Mumbai
•
43 years experience
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You correctly answered out of 5 questions
You can be HIV Positive and not show any symptoms for decades
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Flu-like syndrome with cold, cough, fever, flushing on face may be seen in first few weeks after infection; which is called Acute Sero-conversion phase and will go away automatically in a week or two and you could easily brush them off as a temporary infection. However, the HIV enters the asymptomatic stage after which no apparent symptoms may be shown outward, but it manifests within the body for years, slowly destabilizing your immune system. At this you re your body may attract many infectious organisms and the infections caused are called Secondary Opportunistic Infections. This is when you get certain symptoms such as fever, cough, loose motions, Shingles, rashes on your skin etc. This is only displayed only after few months to few years. Thus, this makes it even more important to get tested for HIV as regularly as possible, without waiting for the symptoms to manifest. Moreover, you can avoid the symptomatic stage and be disease-free, if you are under care of an expert doctor and on effective Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) on a regular basis.
Which of the following is a lesser known symptom of an HIV infection?
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Some of the well-known aspects of an HIV infection are fatigue, skin rashes, aching joints and diarrhea among others, but it has also been known to cause memory loss as well as depression described as AIDs Dementia. These problems primarily tend to occur as your immune system is severely compromised and the stress on your health takes a toll on your mind as well due to your brain getting affected by the HIV. Also, the weakened immune system may also result in chemical imbalances that may further result in memory loss and depression It is also possible to get such symptoms including suicidal tendencies/ideations when you are on ART. Now better anti-retrovirals have been introduced in ART and please consult an HIV expert, who understands the adverse drug effects of Anti-retrovirals.
Early symptoms of HIV manifest immediately after you contract the virus
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Once you contract HIV, the initial symptoms such as rashes on your body as well as fever, cold, cough and other symptoms may not manifest till a few weeks or a few months and if you do get they are overlooked considering common-cold or flu. This stage, also known as the early symptomatic stage, may manifest as late as 6 months after you get the infection. It is thus highly recommended that if you have had unprotected sex or have been exposed to the virus in any way, you should contact an HIV or Infectious Disease expert immediately and get tested.
Which among the following is a common symptom of an HIV infection?
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Another common symptom in the early symptomatic stage of an HIV infection is you may find that your toe or finger nails suddenly change in texture and appearance. Common changes that occur in the nails may include blackening of nails, pallor. This may occur due to an acute condition caused by PCP Pneumonia, so it is often accompanied with dyspnea (breathlessness) on exertion. You may get thickening or cracking of the nails, discoloration as well as splitting across the surface, nail-bed infection. This may be due to a common fungal infection such as candida among others. Fungal infections can be seen in people who have weakened immune systems. Thus, if you have these symptoms along with other chronic problems, immediately get in touch with an HIV or Infectious Disease Expert and get tested.
The itchy, burning rash on your skin may be a symptom of an HIV infection instead of being a simple infection
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Rashes on your skin are the first and the most obvious signs of an HIV infection. Whereas some rashes with water-filled lesions, unilateral, called Herpes Zoster gets alright with or without treatment, some patients have reported the development of rashes which don't seem to go away even after topical treatments or taking oral medications. Mostly they are only on one side of body and a small part is involved, but sometimes it can be bilateral involving multiple sites in body. These may be on your arms, legs, thighs, abdomen, waist, face or may involve multiple sites. These rashes will stay until the underlying immune deficiency is corrected. Rashes on face involving eye may prove to be very much harmful to eye and may cause blindness.If you are having rashes, it is advisable that you go to an HIV or Infectious Disease expert and get yourself examined and tested for HIV infection.
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