Signs and symptoms
... The symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary, depending on the phase of infection. When first infected with HIV, you may have no symptoms at all, although it''s more common to develop a brief flu-like illness tw...

Causes
... Normally, white blood cells and antibodies attack and destroy foreign organisms that enter your body. This response is coordinated by white blood cells known as CD4 lymphocytes. Unfortunately, these l...

Risk factors
... HIV crosses all cultures, national borders and religions. No one is immune, and the virus continues to spread among all segments of the human population at a rapid rate. In sub-Saharan Africa, the are...

When to seek medical advice
... If you think you may have been infected with HIV or are at risk of contracting the virus, seek medical counseling as soon as possible. Tests are available that can determine your status. Thinking abou...

Screening and diagnosis
... HIV is usually diagnosed by testing your blood for the presence of antibodies to the virus. Unfortunately, many HIV tests aren''t accurate immediately after infection because it takes time for your bo...