Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a serious illness spread through specific bodily fluids. Sharing a needle and having unprotected sex with a person infected with HIV are some of the most common ways to contract it. If you think there’s a chance that you or someone you know could have HIV, it’s critical to be on the lookout for its early symptoms. To help you know what to look for, the pharmacy staff from Columbia Hickory Pharmacy in Maryland is here with some helpful information.

A Pharmacy’s Guide to HIV Symptoms

What Are Some Early Symptoms?

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ HIV website, the earliest symptoms of HIV bear a strong resemblance to the flu. You may contract a fever, experience chills and night sweats, feel muscle aches, and become fatigued. Other symptoms include swelling in the lymph nodes, rash, and sore throat. Between 40% and 90% of HIV patients experience flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks after contracting the virus. However, others experience no symptoms at all during virus’s earliest stages.

What Are Later Symptoms?

After the flu-like symptoms fade, most HIV patients begin to feel normal again. Nonetheless, later symptoms will present themselves months or even years down the road. It can take up to ten years for symptoms like persistent coughs, night sweats, fever, weight loss, and diarrhea to develop. By this stage, the virus has impacted the patient’s immune system and makes it more difficult for the body to fight off infections.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have HIV?

Exhibiting the symptoms certainly isn’t a guarantee someone is infected with HIV. Nonetheless, if you suspect you’ve been exposed to the virus, go to your nearest testing site. Treatments for HIV have come a long way in recent years, and survival rates for patients with the virus have risen substantially. If you have a chronic illness like HIV, one of the easiest ways to promote your wellness while living with it is preventing lapses in medication.

Columbia Hickory Pharmacy makes it easy for you to manage and refill your prescriptions, and their drug store associates also offer consulting services to give you all the resources you need to maintain your health. To learn more about the pharmacy, call (410) 964-6409 or visit their website. For the latest announcements, don’t forget to like Columbia Hickory Pharmacy on Facebook.