The initial symptoms of seroconversion (when a person initially becomes HIV+) are similar to mono. A person feels feverish, has swollen glands, sore throat, rash, fatigue, etc. Otherwise a person with AIDS can have multiple symptoms: difficulty swallowing, a coating on the tongue or throat, fevers, dementia, diarrhea, unusual skin lesions, shortness of breath, multiple vaginal yeast infections, cough, weight loss, etc. See similar questions...

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency ["im-you-no-de-fish-en-see"] Virus -- is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV attacks and kills the cells in our bodies that keep us from getting diseases. This makes people with HIV get illnesses that healthy people do not get. When a person with HIV gets very sick from pneumonia, some kinds of cancer, and other life-threatening diseases, they are said to have AIDS. AIDS is a fatal disease. Here is more information on HIV/AIDS. See similar questions...

There are no common symptoms for individuals diagnosed with AIDS. When immune system damage is more severe, people may experience opportunistic infections (called "opportunistic" because they are caused by organisms which cannot induce disease in people with normal immune systems, but take the "opportunity" to flourish in people with HIV). Most of these more severe infections, diseases and symptoms fall under the Centers for Disease Control's definition of full-blown "AIDS. See similar questions...

Testing & PreventionHIV 101The Biology of HIVHIV/AIDS FAQsSigns & SymptomsData & StatisticsLiving with HIV/AIDSMedication InformationIllnesses & InfectionsResearch & NewsSafer SexWomen s Resources HIV is a complex disease that generates many frequently asked questions. HIV FAQ can help you understand HIV and AIDS if you get the right answers for your questions. Knowledge is power. Understanding HIV and AIDS will allow you to take control of your life. See similar questions...

Many people still believe that if they do not have any symptoms or feel sick, they are not at risk for HIV/AIDS. In reality, HIV symptoms usually appear 30 to 60 days after the infection. These symptoms can include a flu-like illness, fever, headaches and fatigue. These initial symptoms go away on their own and often people are asymptomatic for 8-10 years before any other HIV symptoms present themselves. During this entire time, people are contagious and potentially spreading the virus. See similar questions...

Once infected with HIV, a person may or may not experience any symptoms. People who do experience symptoms might have a flu-like illness within one or two months after infection. Symptoms can include fever, headache, tiredness and/or enlarged lymph nodes. These symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for the symptoms of more common viral infections, like a cold. See similar questions...

HIV is a virus that is in your blood that destroys some of your white blood cells, also called T-cells. When your T-cells drop below a certain level, generally 200, you are diagnosed with AIDS. Sometimes you can have a co-infection like PCP Pneumonia that also gives you an AIDS diagnosis. Your nurse will go to you doctor's office, look at your chart, read your lab work, and get back with you to explain what your lab values mean. Your T-cells are the good cells that fight infection in your body. See similar questions...

Primary HIV infection is the first stage of HIV disease, when the virus first establishes itself in the body. Some researchers use the term acute HIV infection to describe the period of time between when a person is first infected with HIV and when antibodies against the virus are produced by the body (usually 6- 12 weeks). Some people newly infected with HIV will experience some "flu-like" symptoms. See similar questions...

Call the California HIV/AIDS Hotline at 800/367-AIDS (English/Spanish). TDD: 888/225-AIDS. For more information about the hotline, click here. See similar questions...

Globally, 45 percent of adults living with HIV/AIDS are women. By region, this percentage varies considerably, from 57% in Sub-Saharan Africa, to 28% in East Asia and the Pacific. In 2004, 17.6 million women were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. See similar questions...

of 2003, approximately 15 million children have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. By 2010, this number is expected to increase to 25 million. Learn more about USAID's efforts to improve the lives of children affected by HIV/AIDS. See similar questions...