How is HIV diagnosed?

HIV is diagnosed through a blood test. However, there is a "window period" of about 3 to 8 weeks after infection when the virus will not show up in the blood stream. Most people who are infected with HIV do not know they are infected, and often only find out years later when they start exhibiting the symptoms of AIDS. Without treatment the immune system gets weaker and weaker as the T cells die.

What are the symptoms?

The following are a list of common symptoms of HIV/AIDS:

• No symptoms
• Weight loss
• Sore mouth and throat
• Swollen glands
• Fevers
• Night sweats
• Diarrhoea
• Tiredness and weakness
• Skin problems or rashes
• Cough and/or difficulty breathing
• Ulcers in the mouth or on the penis/vagina
• Sore muscles causing difficulty walking
• A thick, white coating of the tongue or mouth (oral thrush) or vagina (vaginal thrush)
• Discoloured or purplish growths on the skin or inside the mouth or nose
• Difficulties concentrating or confusion, personality changes

Symptoms in children are slightly different than in adult. Common symptoms include:

• Persistent oral thrush
• Recurrent bacterial infections, such as ear infections
• Recurrent gastro-enteritis
• Swollen salivary glands
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
• Enlargement of the liver and spleen
• Failure to grow or reach normal points in development at the right time (such as talking, walking)