Experiencing These HIV Symptoms? Get Tested Today

Experiencing These HIV Symptoms? Get Tested Today

Short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV is a virus responsible for AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). The virus works by taking over the immune system and using white blood cells to replicate and spread the virus throughout the body. Although the virus is widely classified into HIV 1 and HIV 2, an HIV positive person may carry multiple strains of the virus simultaneously.

With the tremendous strides in medical technology, HIV positive people now have access to effective medications and treatment that enable them to lead normal lives without the risk of spreading the virus to other people. However to utilize the full benefits of these medications, you need to be diagnosed at the earliest.

If you suspect you may have been exposed to an HIV risk, the right thing to do is get tested as soon as possible. In case you have inadvertently engaged in unsafe sex and have been noticing rashes that may be early stage HIV symptoms rash, an HIV screening will help confirm if you have been infected or not.

Identifying the early stages of HIV

Exposure to HIV virus does not produce immediate symptoms. However, within two to four weeks of infection, an affected person may experience acute symptoms such as:

• High body temperature
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Body pain
• Night sweats
• Rashes

It is important to be aware that HIV symptoms Arlington VA do not appear alike in everyone. While some people may suffer from symptoms in its extreme, others may not have any symptoms at all. Then there are people who experience mild symptoms and refrain from seeking medical attention, assuming it to be the flue or a cold. Once these symptoms subside, affected individuals may go on with their lives without noticing any physical difficulties.

Importance of HIV testing

If you have been experiencing early stage HIV symptoms rash or other symptoms mentioned above, it would be a good idea to get tested for HIV antigen and HIV antibody as well at your nearest urgent care clinic. This is because if HIV antigen has found its way into your bloodstream, these tests can accurately confirm the infection in as little as two weeks after exposure.

Privacy is the main concern of people going in for HIV testing. And this is where urgent care clinics come to your aid. If you do not want to go in to a regular clinic where you need to book prior appointment, state your requirement and then be kept waiting for your turn as people around give you judgmental looks, an urgent care clinic is the perfect option for you.

You can walk in to an immediate care clinic and get tested in a matter of minutes. In case you have early stage HIV symptoms rash, you will be ushered in for a consultation with minimum waiting time. The earlier you get diagnosed, the better are your chances of reducing the viral load in your body so that you do not pass on the infection to anyone else. It will also ensure that you do not develop health complications later on.