A brief guide to understanding HIV symptoms and testing

HIV is the most widely known and feared sexually transmitted virus. It is a retrovirus that progressively compromises the immune system. Although HIV can lead to AIDS and ultimately can be terminal, it is possible, with treatment, to live a long life after HIV infection.

There are stages that HIV infection is categorised into. The first is Primary Infection, which immediately follows exposure, and is when the virus goes through a period of rapid replication. HIV symptoms at this time are flu-like, such as fatigue, sore throat, fever and headache can occur at this time.

Clinical Latency is when the body begins to mobilise its immune response against the virus. At this stage it is unlikely to experience any HIV symptoms - it lasts on average, about 10 years.

An HIV test can be administered to determine if a person has HIV. They work by looking for the presence of HIV antibodies. Other tests detect the HIV virus directly are more common tests for newborn babies.