As World AIDS Day looms on the 1 December, some of the UK’s top HIV experts talk about a range of issues close to home. Joe Murray, Policy Officer at the National AIDS Trust, explains the 'HIV-warning signs' everyone should know, arguing that even doctors should be better trained.

Adam woke up one Saturday morning feeling rough. It wasn’t a usual hangover. He felt lumps on his face, a terrible sore throat and a splitting headache. Crawling back into bed he slept for a few more hours. But when his symptoms got worse he went to see a doctor. His doctor reassured him it was just an infection and swollen glands. He was sent away with painkillers. Adam felt rough for a few more days and came out in a red rash. After a week or so his symptoms went away and the incident slipped to the back of his mind. Neither Adam nor his doctor thought of HIV. 

This tale is all too common in the UK, where reports show that doctors are missing symptoms of early HIV infection. “Probably glandular fever”, “It’s a viral illness”, or “Come back in two weeks if you’re not feeling better,” are all typical responses to what are in fact symptoms of early HIV infection - sometimes called sero-conversion.

Evidence shows that over 70% of people show symptoms of HIV in the first few weeks after infection. Normally flu-like symptoms, it is easy to see how they can be missed. But three symptoms – a fever, a rash and a sore throat - all occurring together are actually unusual. If you’ve put yourself at risk recently, these symptoms are clear warning signs you should get an HIV test.

The danger is that after these early symptoms, which disappear naturally after a couple of weeks, a person infected with HIV may have no symptoms for years. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be putting their health or partners’ health at risk. There is treatment today that means someone living with HIV can live a long life, but its success relies on starting treatment early. And, without treatment, people with HIV are more likely to infect others. Knowing your status also means you can start adapting your lifestyle to cope with living with a long-term condition – from doing more exercise to deciding how you might tell partners.

New types of tests mean there is even less reason to wait. The old tale of a 'three month window period' is no longer true. Tests available in many GUM clinics can now detect HIV just 12 days after infection. An annual HIV test should be a regular feature on any sexually active gay man’s calendar, but knowledge of the signs and symptoms to look out for means that anyone worried can get advice right away. 

For more information on HIV visit www.nat.org.uk, to find your nearest Sexual Health Clinic visit www.fpa.org.uk/finder and to read more about Adam visit  www.positiveadam.co.uk.

World AIDS Day: 1 December
For more about World AIDS Day and HIV/AIDS, plus awareness and fundraising events in your area visit www.worldaidsday.org.

Useful Links

AIDS Map, www.aidsmap.com
Crusaid, www.crusaid.org.uk
GMFA, www.gmfa.org.uk
HIV i-Base, www.i-base.info
HIV Scotland, www.hivscotland.org.uk
Living Well, www.livingwelluk.com
National AIDS Trust, www.nat.org.uk
Positively Women, www.positivelywomen.org.uk
Stop AIDS Campaign, www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust, www.tht.org.uk
THT: HIV and AIDS, www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/hivandaids
World AIDS Day, www.worldaidsday.org