What are the visible signs that someone has HIV/AIDS?

There are no visible signs of HIV. There may be signs of AIDS. HIV is a virus. People who carry that virus in their systems are said to be HIV-positive, but they are not ill, nor do they look ill. read more

There are no visible signs of HIV. There may be signs of AIDS. HIV is a virus. People who carry that virus in their systems are said to be HIV-positive, but they are not ill, nor do they look ill. Actually with HAART terapies HIV-positive individuals have a life expectancy that's comparable to HIV-negatives (minus 10 years or so, which is pretty good). read more

"In the early stages of HIV infection, the most common symptoms are none," says Michael Horberg, MD, director of HIV/AIDS for Kaiser Permanente, in Oakland, Calif. One in five people in the United States with HIV doesn't know they have it, which is why it's so important to get tested, especially if you have unprotected sex with more than one partner or use intravenous drugs. read more

An early HIV diagnosis can help ensure prompt treatment to control the virus and prevent progression into stage 3 HIV. Learn how HIV transmission works in the early stages, what symptoms to look for (if any), and more. read more