Severe pelvic pain, fever with abdominal pain, fainting, or significant testicular swelling also warrants urgent medical assessment. Do not wait for an online symptom list to confirm what is happening.
6. Flu-Like Symptoms, Fatigue, or Swollen Lymph Nodes
Some infections can cause general symptoms that resemble a common viral illness. During early HIV infection, for example, some people
develop fever, sore throat, rash, muscle aches, fatigue, or swollen lymph nodes. Others have mild symptoms or none that they recognize.
These symptoms are not specific to HIV. Influenza, COVID-19, other viral infections, and many unrelated conditions can cause similar problems. It is impossible to confirm or rule out HIV based on how a person feels.
Syphilis can also cause symptoms beyond the initial sore. In a later stage, some people develop a rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, or fatigue. The rash may appear on parts of the body that are not immediately obvious, including the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Symptoms may fade even while the infection remains untreated.
