Is HIV Curable If Caught Early?

Early symptoms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are referred to as primary or acute HIV infection. These symptoms usually occur two to four weeks after a person is infected with the virus and include: 

• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms 
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Skin rash
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite
• Weight loss
• Dry cough 

Painful open sores or ulcers in the mouth, the esophagus, the anus, or the penis (only occurs in a small proportion of those exposed to the virus)

These first symptoms last about 2 weeks and are usually mild. Many people don’t even recognize they have HIV at this stage. 

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is caused by exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus. The virus is transmitted via blood or through sexual intercourse and exposure to other bodily fluids (such as semen or vaginal fluids) from a person with HIV. HIV infection is NOT spread by casual contact.

HIV infection can occur if a person:

• Has unprotected sex (without using a condom) with someone who has HIV
  • This includes vaginal, anal, and oral sex
• Shares needles or syringes with a person infected with HIV
• A pregnant woman can transmit HIV to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding
  • This is uncommon with the use of HIV medications during and after pregnancy

People who are at increased risk of HIV infection include:

• Men who have sex with other men
• Drug users who share needles or “works”
• Sexual partners of people who are infected with HIV
• People who have unprotected sex with multiple partners
• People with a history of a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• People who exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do
• Victims of sexual assault 
• Anyone accidentally stuck with a needle or sharp in a health care facility
• People who received a blood transfusion or other blood products before 1984 
  • Blood products were not routinely screened for HIV prior to 1984

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is diagnosed with either a blood test or a saliva (spit) test. 

Rapid HIV test results are available in minutes, though some test results can take days.

There are also HIV test kits available at some pharmacies that can be used at home. One test uses a special strip to collect a small amount of blood, and another kit has a strip that is wiped on the gums. The strips are mailed to a lab for testing. If you use an at-home HIV test kit and results come back positive, see your doctor.