Men Greatly Affected by New HIV Infections
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one million people aged 13 and older were living with an HIV infection in the United States at the end of 2009. Gay and bisexual men make up nearly two-thirds of the 50,000 newly infected each year. Black/African American men and women are also greatly affected.
Early treatment is key to a long life, but some men experience no symptoms. Here are the signs to look for.
How to spot early HIV symptoms in men
In general, the HIV symptoms that men will experience are not all that different to those found in women. Apart from vaginal or menstrual changes all the tell-tale signs are the same in men and women.
HIV symptoms can vary significantly between patients. No two HIV-positive men will have exactly the same experience.
In general, a man's HIV infection will follow this general pattern:
Acute illness: This may or may not occur. Around 70% of patients notice it. If this occurs, it is most liekly to happen 1-2 weeks post infection. Symptoms include fever, sickness and chills.
Asymptomatic period: A long period of time (up to 10 years) in which you do not experience any symptoms.
Advanced infection: A highly weakened immune system makes you susceptible to a number of different illnesses.
"Flu-like" Illness
One of the earliest HIV symptoms in men is a severe 'flu-like' illness, known as the 'seroconversion illness.'
Seroconversion is the point in time where a person's blood is converted from being HIV negative to HIV positive, by the production of antibodies. It is often accompanied by an acute illness, the symptoms of which vary significantly between patients.
However, a man may experience:
Severe headaches
Fever (with temperatures over 100 degrees F)
Chills and sweats
Fatigue
Severe muscle ache
Sickness and diarrhoea
Rapid weightloss
Ulcers And Other Skin Conditions
Unusual skin problems can occur as either an early or late HIV symptom in men:
Rashes may develop on 'moist' areas of a man's body such as the groin, penis or anus
They may develop on the face and neck, chest/ torso and palms of hands
They may be either itchy or minor and painless
A man might develop painful ulcers within the mouth or throat which do not go away and make eating difficult
Asymptomatic Period
For up to 10 years after being infected, your infection will go through an asymptomatic period where you feel perfectly healthy. During this time, the HIV virus replicates within your body and starts to break down your immune system.
Some men complain of severely swollen lymph nodes (in the neck, or groin, or both) during this time, but this may be one of the only HIV symptoms men will experience.
Symptoms Of An Advanced HIV Infection
It may take a number of weeks, months or years, but the HIV infection will eventually break down your immune system. This weakened immune system leaves the body susceptible to attack by so called 'opportunistic infections.' These are conditions that your body would normally be able to fight off, but which can prove fatal in HIV-positive individuals.
You may notice:
Recurrent fungal infections such as fungal nail infections that will not go away or respond to over-the-counter medication
Recurrent colds, flu and viruses
Dementia, confusion and impaired motor skills
What Should A Man Do If He Notices Symptoms?
If you notice any of these symptoms and you've recently put yourself at risk of HIV infection, you should get tested as soon as possible. You can visit your local clinic or check out the lists of HIV Testing Center in the Philipppines.