The best way to tell if someone has HIV / AIDS or not is to perform a medical examination through blood tests. When testing is not possible, there are certain signs that can indicate whether a person has HIV / AIDS or not, or at least know the symptoms. It must be remembered that a person with HIV usually do not show signs for at least several months to several years.
In adults, 3 major signs of AIDS are:
- Lost 10% of body weight over a month without a cause.
- Diarrhea for more than one month.
- A fever that lasts for more than one month either constant or come and go
In adults, 5 minor signs of AIDS are:
- Dry cough that does not go away.
- Itchy skin all over the body.
- Herpes zoster (like chicken pox, or caused by viruses that also cause chicken pox, herpes virus) that does not go away.
- Candidiasis, white, raised rash on the mouth, tongue, or throat.
- Swollen glands (in the neck, armpit, or groin) with or without active infection.
Adults can be diagnosed with AIDS, if it has at least 2 major signs and one minor sign. But, it was enough to make a diagnosis of AIDS if a person suffering from skin cancer (called Karposi, usually reddish, purple, or black spots on the skin that can become large and painful) or cryptococcal meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain that causes fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, and an inability to get up).
In children, 3 major signs of AIDS are:
- Weight loss or slow growth.
- Severe diarrhea for 14 days or more.
- Fever for more than a month.
In children, 5 minor signs of AIDS are:
- Itchy skin all over the body.
- Swollen glands (in the neck, armpit, or groin).
- Candidiasis (white spots) in the mouth, tongue, or throat.
- Infections of the ear, throat, and other infections.
- Cough that does not go away.
- Other small sign is if the mother has tested positive for HIV / AIDS or have signs of AIDS.
For a child to be diagnosed with AIDS, there should be 2 large and 2 small signs listed above.