If I have symptoms of HIV...?
968653
I believe the HIV virus is detectable in blood tests ater about 3-6 months from contracting it.
211817
false.  it means they will develop aids.  hiv causes aids.
1110802
No, it can be years before the symptoms of AID's develop but a year and a half is more than enough time for the HIV virus to be in large enough quantities for a HIV test to be conclusive. I recommend you get tested for a wide array of STD's while there are also many that also can go on symptomless for some time while doing damage.
651387
Can I get HIV from kissing?\n\nOn the Cheek:\n\nHIV is not transmitted casually, so kissing on the cheek is very safe. Even if the other person has the virus, your unbroken skin is a good barrier. No one has become infected from such ordinary social contact as dry kisses, hugs, and handshakes.\n\nOpen-Mouth Kissing:\n\nOpen-mouth kissing is considered a very low-risk activity for the transmission of HIV. However, prolonged open-mouth kissing could damage the mouth or lips and allow HIV to pass from an infected person to a partner and then enter the body through cuts or sores in the mouth. Because of this possible risk, the CDC recommends against open-mouth kissing with an infected partner.\n\nOne case suggests that a woman became infected with HIV from her sex partner through exposure to contaminated blood during open-mouth kissing.\n\nFor more information refer to the July 11, 1997, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report “Transmission of HIV Possibly Associated with Exposure of Mucous Membrane to Contaminated Blood” located at ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Publications/mmwr/wk/mm4627.pdf.\n\nCan I get HIV from oral sex?\n\nYes, it is possible for either partner to become infected with HIV through performing or receiving oral sex. There have been a few cases of HIV transmission from performing oral sex on a person infected with HIV. While no one knows exactly what the degree of risk is, evidence suggests that the risk is less than that of unprotected anal or vaginal sex.\n\nIf the person performing oral sex has HIV, blood from their mouth may enter the body of the person receiving oral sex through\n\n    * the lining of the urethra (the opening at the tip of the penis);\n    * the lining of the vagina or cervix;\n    * the lining of the anus; or\n    * directly into the body through small cuts or open sores. \n\nIf the person receiving oral sex has HIV, their blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), or vaginal fluid may contain the virus. Cells lining the mouth of the person performing oral sex may allow HIV to enter their body.\n\nThe risk of HIV transmission increases\n\n    * if the person performing oral sex has cuts or sores around or in their mouth or throat;\n    * if the person receiving oral sex ejaculates in the mouth of the person performing oral sex; or\n    * if the person receiving oral sex has another sexually transmitted disease (STD). \n\nNot having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid HIV.\n\nIf you choose to perform oral sex, and your partner is male,\n\n    * use a latex condom on the penis; or\n    * if you or your partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms can be used. \n\nStudies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not perfect, in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the male or female can be used. For more information about latex condoms, see "Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases."\n\nIf you choose to have oral sex, and your partner is female,\n\n    * use a latex barrier (such as a natural rubber latex sheet, a dental dam or a cut-open condom that makes a square) between your mouth and the vagina. A latex barrier such as a dental dam reduces the risk of blood or vaginal fluids entering your mouth. Plastic food wrap also can be used as a barrier. \n\nIf you choose to perform oral sex with either a male or female partner and this sex includes oral contact with your partners anus (analingus or rimming),\n\n    * use a latex barrier (such as a natural rubber latex sheet, a dental dam or a cut-open condom that makes a square) between your mouth and the anus. Plastic food wrap also can be used as a barrier.\n\nIf you choose to share sex toys with your partner, such as dildos or vibrators,\n\n    * each partner should use a new condom on the sex toy; and\n    * be sure to clean sex toys between each use.\n\nIf you
823879
Did the doc run and HIV test?  Your symptoms sound like they could be any average nasty virus.  Keep going to the doc until you have and answer.
1167840
be cautious.. avoid needles. always use a condom, even with oral sex. dont kiss anyone if you have any sores or cuts in your mouth, or if its in theirs. \n\nblood transfusions also can give you hiv, but thats rare.\n\njust be careful :)
78389
There are no symptoms at first.  You need to get a blood check.  The government clinics usually do it for free.  If you test negative, make sure you practice safe sex in the future.
394352
The person infected may only be a carrier and never get AIDS.  If you think you have HIV, go to your local clinic and get tested.  If you have HIV and believe it is in the stages of AIDS, again go to your local clinic/hospital and get tested.  Until then, don't have sex unless it is protected sex, cause you can pass the virus on to your partner.  If you don't tell them you are HIV infected and know you are, you can be charged with attempted murder, if it's unprotected sex, last time I heard.
7193
As you may already know, AIDS is the disease that develops from the viral infection HIV.  All AIDS means is when the person's body falls victim to an everyday infection because of a weakened immune system.  The only sure way to test for HIV is to have an HIV antibody test...  :) hope this helps!
6478
There is sometimes a flu-like illness when someone is infected, when they are going through what is called seroconversion, which is when the body is developing antibodies in response to the infection. A person can have virus in their body before there are enough antibodies to result in a positive test. Most of the time there are no symptoms at all.\n\nIf there is any chance of being infected, a person should get an HIV test. There are many clinics that will do this free, anonymously, and counseling and treatment are available.\n\nSomeone can be HIV positive and able to pass the infection to others for many years without having any symptoms.
88117
use condoms until you know from a blood test.You can't tell by looking at someone if they have the aids virus. They could look totaly healthy and be hiv positive.
576975
the symptoms of aids are frequent fever, diarrhoea about more than twice a week, and infection of various types. \n\nthe symptom of which you mentioned in the question is obviously not of aids. it can be of schyfilis of a chancre developing. but it csn be more of a muscular pain developed when you are trying to masturbbate. so wait for a wee, see if the pain resolves; and if it coes not then you must visit the doctor.
405224
Play it safe and get tested! There are many different symptoms and can be confused with other causes. Symptoms are not a reliable way to diagnose HIV infection. Testing for HIV antibodies is the only way to know whether you have been infected
936535
Don't listed to Lita, you can't get HIV from touching someone!  If you used protection it is unlikely that you would get HIV.  I would get tested for everything just to be safe.  If it comes back negative, get tested again in 6 months because sometimes the virus takes time to show up.    Be careful and make sure that you use protection every time!
767765
in the bed yeah as long as u dnt have hiv or add
235630
that is EXACTLY how you get AIDS.  If you got AIDS you will have the virus in your blood and be able to infect others immediately, but you will not TEST positive for AIDS for 3 months or more, sometimes up to a year.  So if you just did something foolish, please don't spread it around!  get celibate and get tested in a few months.
583987
Hello:\nThis is in response to your question posted about symptoms of HIV. I treat a lot of patients with HIV and AIDS. There is a difference. Being HIV positive means simply that you have been exposed to the virus and infected. More often than not, people have no symptoms at all. There is a syndrome called "acute retroviral syndrome" which can occur weeks to a few months after being infected. The symptoms are like having a flu. Fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, malaise, sore throat, muscle and joint aches, and a diffuse rash on the body however, this resolves soon and the person thinks he/she just had a flu or bad cold. Most HIV patients have no symptoms until their T-cell CD4 counts get below a certain number and their viral load (the number of copies of virus in 1 ml of blood) rises above a certain number. When these two things happen, the patient will begin to develop symptoms, ie. more colds, more viral infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, yeast infections, thrush, skin rashes. Then there is what are called "AIDS-defining illnesses". Examples include esophageal "thrush", pneumocystis pneumonia ("PCP"), kaposi sarcoma (a type of skin cancer that are deep purple in color) just to name a few.  The only real way you know if you have HIV is to have the HIV 1&2 antibody test done by your physician. This can be done by blood draw, or more simply a swab of your mouth/saliva. If positive, then the doc will check your viral load and T-cell counts. Usually symptoms do not start appearing until the T-lymphocyte cell count falls below 200. HIV is not a death sentence like it was originally. Most people infected with HIV back in the early 80's to mid 90's went on to develop full blown AIDS due to lack of anti-retroviral drugs. Currently, the are many HIV drugs that target the virus replication, entry into the T-cells, ability of virus to form its protein coat, and some others that act in a different manner that are in the drug pipeline but not currently available. Rarely in the United States do you see AIDS defining illnesses and people are living much longer now. I have a patient I treat who was diagnosed in 1988 and he is still very much alive and kicking thanks to the many drug cocktails available to keep the virus at bay. In fact, the virus is undetectable in his bloodstream now and his T-cell counts are back to normal.\nI hope this helped answer your questions.\nRegards, \nWarren Shaffer, M.D.