Symptoms of HIV

Not everybody with HIV shows signs or symptoms of the infection. When first infected, some people may experience flu-like symptoms, known as seroconversion illness or primary HIV infection. These may include diarrhoea, headaches, fatigue, high temperature/fever, muscle aches and pains, skin rash, sore throat or swollen glands.

Following the first stage you may not experience any symptoms for a number of years and the HIV may go undetected but during this time the virus will multiply and can still be passed to other people.

However, unless HIV is diagnosed and treated with antiviral tablets, the immune systems will be affected and eventually lead to life-threatening infections and/or cancer.

Further information on HIV

Detailed information about HIV is available on the NHS website.

See the FPA website for a range of downloadable leaflets on STIs and HIV.