Did I Just Contract HIV? Symptoms of Primary HIV Infection

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It's sometimes possible to recognize when you've recently contracted HIV from signs and symptoms such as fever, rash, or swollen lymph nodes. This video will teach you how to recognize signs and symptoms of primary HIV infection that are experienced by between 40 and 90% of individuals after they are first infected with HIV. Primary HIV infection occurs during the first few weeks or months after a person first becomes infected with HIV. Symptoms include rash and/or fevers, possibly in combination with one or more of the following symptoms: malaise (which is a general feeling of weakness, discomfort, and fatigue), loss of appetite, weight loss, a sore throat, sores in the mouth, joint or muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, fatigue, night sweats, nausea and vomiting, headache, or genital sores. The symptoms usually last from seven to ten days, and rarely more than two weeks. There is an incubation period of a few days to a few weeks between when the person was exposed to HIV and when the symptoms begin. If you have any of these symptoms and think there's even the slightest chance you might have been exposed to HIV, such as through recent sexual activity or sharing a needle, even with someone who you believe is HIV negative, you should see a doctor and ask to be tested for HIV. When you go to the doctor with any of these symptoms, it's very important to mention any risk factors you may have for HIV so they could test you. If you have ever had unprotected sex, even once, have used injection drugs, or think you might be experiencing primary HIV infection, make sure to tell your doctor. Visit and to learn more. [Do you want to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS? Are you fluent in a language other than English? Then volunteer to translate this video into another language! Click to to learn how you can help!!!]

Channel: Education
Uploaded: July 3, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Author: AIDSvideos

Length: 00:04:49
Rating: 4.63
Views: 204006

Tags: hiv aids primary infection symptoms test fever rash lymph nodes fatigue nausea vomiting sore throat mouth genital joint

Video Comments:
AmyFire08 (January 7, 2009 at 6:00 am)
I can only speak for the uk here but I would personaly adivse anyone who thinks there is a slight risk of having contracted HIV to just nip down to their GP, even if you have only been at risk once in your life, you never know


Also concider this

What if you have unknowingly contracted it, are you prepared to ignor the risk and put your girlfriend or boyfriend at risk, HIV is no longer a death centence...Choose life for yourself and your loved ones!
ronmoore321 (January 7, 2009 at 3:25 am)
i have a question - lets say if you go to a restaurant and you order some food. One of the people that are making the food has HIV and/ or AIDS.Well she/ he sneezes in the food and the saliva on your food. And you eat it.

Will you contract HIV
AIDSvideos (January 7, 2009 at 4:28 pm)
This is Eric; I'm not a doctor. Food preparation is not believed to pose a risk of HIV transmission. Reasons include: HIV dies quickly (within minutes) outside the human body; cooking kills it; levels of HIV in saliva are low; etc.
ThaLyncher (January 6, 2009 at 10:23 am)
If i kiss and receive oral sex from someone thats infected can i be infected?
AIDSvideos (January 6, 2009 at 1:05 pm)
This is Eric; I'm not a doctor. Oral sex (whether protected or unprotected) does pose a risk of HIV transmission in either direction, although the risk is lower than anal or vaginal sex. See our video "Some Ways You Can Contract HIV and the Risk of Each ONE" and wikipedia article on "HIV" for risk estimates. Get tested for HIV, follow your doctor's instructions for any follow-up testing, and use condoms if you choose to be sexually active in the future.
suninfilo (January 5, 2009 at 11:08 pm)
My lymph nodes are not swollen for some reason, but they feel like they are. but i cant feel any pain when i press around the area
suninfilo (January 5, 2009 at 11:06 pm)
i used condoms for anal sex and did not use it for oral sex... i kissed a lady with sore throat and now i have it.. now i feel scared that i might hVE CONTACTED HIV. am i at risk?
AIDSvideos (January 6, 2009 at 1:03 pm)
This is Eric; I'm not a doctor. Anyone who has had unprotected sex (including oral) with a partner of unknown or uncertain HIV status is potentially at risk. See our video "Some Ways You Can Contract HIV and the Risk of Each One" for details. Get tested, follow the doctor's instructions for any follow-up testing, and use protection if you choose to be sexually active in the future.
OnlyTwoShoes (January 5, 2009 at 5:15 pm)
...so if you have symptoms you could be infected...and if you don't you could still be infected? So I guess the moral of this video is live in a box and keep it in your pants...
AIDSvideos (January 6, 2009 at 1:07 pm)
"Live in a box and keep it in your pants" would indeed be one effective way to avoid contracting HIV, but it's not the only one, nor is that the intended message of the video. In many of our videos we talk about how to correctly use condoms (and use them every time) which is one way for sexually active people to GREATLY reduce their risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.