HIV symptoms are commonly often mistaken for the symptoms of other diseases, like the flu, influenza, tonsillitis and so on.
Remember, you could become HIV positive only in case you had penetrative sex with another person who is HIV positive. The safest way to know whether you have been infected with HIV is to take an HIV test.
This is the fastest HIV test available, that reveals the infection 7 days after you have been exposed to the virus. This kind of testing uses the PCR/NAAT test and it is effective in case of HIV1 and HIV 2 RNA. It takes about 4 working days to get the results and costs £299.
Another kind of HIV test is the HIV DUO test that you should consider if you have been exposed to the virus in the past 28 days. This test received its name because it tests for 1 and 2 antibodies and also for p24 antigen. The results of this HIV test are available in 4 hours and the cost is £125.
The third test is the HIV 1 and 2 antibody test. This is effective if you have been exposed to the virus in the past 90 days and the results are available in just one minute.
The major HIV symptoms appear after 2 weeks, but this time period might last up to 4 weeks, and in many cases the patients don’t have any of these symptoms at all. The first symptoms are known to develop in 2-12 weeks after the exposure to the virus.
As it has been mentioned, the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases like flue and the common cold. In some cases, people also get anxious if they feel they may have HIV and therefore possibly develop some symptoms that in fact aren’t real.
Remember, the easiest way to protect yourself from HIV exposure, is to use a condom when having sex, both vaginal and anal. The chances of you contacting the HIV virus through protective sex are almost nonexistent.
However, if you feel that the condom has split during intercourse then it is advised that you visit a gum clinic immediately and take an HIV test.
