HIV infection

Alternative names:

human immunodeficiency virus infection

Symptoms:

Any of the following symptoms may occur:

• sore throat
• mouth sores, including candidal infection
• muscular stiffness or aching
• headache
• diarrhea
• swollen lymph glands
• fever
• fatigue
• rash of various types, including seborrheic dermatitis
• frequent vaginal yeast infections

Note: At the time of diagnosis with HIV infection, many people have not experienced symptoms.

Signs and tests:

• An HIV ELISA/Western blot may show positive HIV antibody; if negative, the test should be repeated in 3 months.
• CD4 count may show suppression of the immune system
• HIV RNA viral load indicates amount of virus in the bloodstream.
• A blood differential may show abnormalities.

Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial