However, it is not true that there are no symptoms of hiv, it is just that they tend to be so subtle as to be confused with ordinary colds and flu. Many of those who are hiv positive might notice no change in their health at all until they develop full-blown aids. The hiv virus attacks the immune system and kills T cells which battle microbes which prevent infections. Once these T cells are disabled, a person becomes more vulnerable to the kinds of small infections that the body fights off on a daily basis. Among the symptoms of hiv are an increased sensitivity to infection. A person might notice that they come down with whatever illness is going around when they used to have some resistance to getting sick. Also, their case might be more severe than that of others, and they might be sick for a longer period of time. The Hiv virus makes one vulnerable to opportunistic, or ordinary infections, like sinus infections or thrush.

One of the most common symptoms of hiv is a flu-like illness accompanied by swollen glands. While a person can have this complaint without being Hiv positive, it is essential to get tested for Hiv on a regular basis, especially if a person experiences these symptoms and has not had an Hiv test in a while to rule out that these are symptoms of hiv.

Since there are few symptoms of hiv, many people find that they can live many years with the virus and that their lives are not disrupted. However, some people can get very sick very soon, and the disease manifests itself differently in each case. Once a person discovers that he or she is Hiv positive, there are medications that can be taken to prevent the infection from developing into full-blown aids. With the proper care an attention, a person can live for years with hiv and not experience difficult hiv symptoms that prevent him or her from leading a normal life. However, not everyone is so fortunate, and it is essential to take good care of one´s health to maximize one´s life span.

There is no need to wait for symptoms of hiv to manifest themselves, but it is a better plant to get tested immediately. This will increase the likelihood that one can live longer with the infection and can slow the spread of the disease. Hiv tests should be taken by every sexually active individual or drug user. Even though blood transfusions are much safer than they used to be, it is worth having a test if you have had a blood transfusion.