The best way to tell if someone has HIV / AIDS or not is to perform a medical examination through blood tests. When testing is not possible, there are certain signs that can indicate whether a person has HIV / AIDS or not, or at least know the symptoms. It must be remembered that a person with HIV usually do not show signs for at least several months to several years.
In adults, the three major signs of AIDS are:
1. Lost 10% of body weight over a month without a cause.
2. Diarrhea for more than a month.
3. Fever that lasts for more than one month either constant or come and go.
In adults, 5 minor signs of AIDS are:
1. Dry cough that does not heal.
2. Itchy skin all over the body.
3. Herpes zoster (chicken pox-like, or caused by viruses that also cause chicken pox, herpes virus) that do not heal.
4. Candidiasis, a white, raised rash on the mouth, tongue, or throat.
5. Swollen glands (neck, armpit, or groin) with or without an active infection.
Adults can be diagnosed with AIDS, if it has at least 2 major signs and one minor sign. But, that's enough to make a diagnosis of AIDS if a person has cancer of the skin (called Karposi, which is usually reddish, purple, or black spots on the skin that can become large and painful) or cryptococcal meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain that causes fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, and inability to get up).
In children, three major signs of AIDS are:
1. Weight loss or slow growth.
2. Severe diarrhea for 14 days or more.
3. Fever for more than a month.
In children, 5 minor signs of AIDS are:
1. Itchy skin all over the body.
2. Swollen glands (neck, armpit, or groin).
3. Candidiasis (white spots) in the mouth, tongue, or throat.
4. Infections of the ear, throat, and other infections.
5. A cough that does not heal.
Posted in: HIV/ AIDS
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