You are here:

AIDS/sida symptoms

Advertisement

Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 3/15/2007


Question
I would like to know what are the firs symptoms of aids and at what time does a person with sex contact start feeling this symptoms

Answer
When first infected with HIV, a person may develop symptoms similar to having the flu which clear up in a week or so. Then, the person generally has no noticable symptoms until they have progressed to an AIDS diagnosis- which usually takes years. If the person adheres to a treatment regimen, it could be decades. A person does not have noticeable symptoms of AIDS but symptoms of the infections they acquire due to a damaged immune system (a result of AIDS). A person could develop pneumonia, cancer, TB etc- all which have different symptoms. So, it depends on the infection.

AIDS

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Kristen Brannock, MPH

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning HIV infection and AIDS. This includes ways it can and cannot be transmitted, how it is treated, how it affects the body and methods to protect yourself. I can also answer questions concerning safer sex and contraception.

Experience

I trained with the Red Cross to become an HIV/AIDS counselor and was a member of CARES- Carolina AIDS Resource Education Service in college. I have an MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education and conduct research in the field of HIV prevention. I also take continuing education courses in HIV/STI prevention periodically.

Education/Credentials
Master of Public Health Health Behavior and Health Education UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (formerly UNC-CH School of Public Health)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.