Yes, the HealthyMD In-Home HIV Test is an FDA-approved over-the-counter HIV test that allows you to test quickly and easily in the comfort of your own home.
HIV is more common than you might think. 1 in 7 people worldwide is infected with HIV. That’s 33 million people living with HIV, most without knowing they’re carrying the virus. And of course, there are more people out there carrying HIV that we don’t even know about. Statistically speaking, someone close to you may already be living with HIV without knowing it yet.
Our home HIV test kit offers you peace of mind while giving accurate results without any hassle. With our discreet test kit, you can have an HIV test done without anyone knowing about it.
We’ve worked countless hours to make sure our tests are not only safe for patient use but also easy to understand.
What Were Your First HIV Symptoms?
You’ve most likely heard people talk about HIV, but you may be wondering just what it is and why it affects some people more than others. Here’s the rundown on what are some of the first signs of infection with HIV and how that differs from the disease itself. What Are Some of the First Signs of Infection?
Sore Throat
A sore throat is one of the first signs of infection with HIV. The most common cause of throat irritation in people with HIV/AIDS is thrush, a fungal infection that occurs as a result of suppressed immune function. The mouth also tends to become very dry in those with AIDS, resulting in burning and pain when drinking fluids or eating solid foods. Achiness may also be present in both cases, and some people may have difficulty swallowing liquids. In addition, many individuals suffering from HIV develop lesions on their tonsils (if they are still intact), which may bleed easily when touched. If you experience any of these first HIV symptoms in combination with other non-HIV-related conditions such as colds, you should consider visiting your doctor for an examination to determine if you are infected with HIV.
Tender lymph nodes
Lymph nodes, which are scattered throughout your body, act as filters for all of your immune system. If you’re newly infected with HIV, you may notice that a few of these nodes are tender to touch. Because lymph nodes become swollen when they’re fighting an infection or dealing with inflammation, it’s common to experience soreness in their presence. This is usually short-lived and goes away within a month or two after infection.
Difficulty swallowing
People who are in stage one of an HIV infection often have difficulty swallowing. They may notice they have a lump in their throat or can’t breathe properly. Also, many people feel like there is something stuck in their throat when they swallow or that it takes a long time to swallow. However, there is no reason to panic about these symptoms since they’re probably not related to HIV/AIDS and will get better by themselves as you begin treatment for your illness.
Swollen glands in your neck
One of the first symptoms of HIV infection is swollen glands in your neck, which makes sense because there are many lymph nodes located here. Some people might also experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, aches and pains, headaches, or a sore throat. It’s important to get tested as soon as possible if you think you might have been exposed to HIV, even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms at first.
Dark purple spots on the skin
Spots or patches of dark purple skin referred to as petechiae, are another common first sign of infection. Although they can be alarming, they aren’t painful and typically fade within a week or two. They’re caused by tiny blood vessels bursting under your skin. The resulting spots are harmless—but if you notice them it made be a good time to order our test and call your doctor. It could be a sign of certain other health conditions that require medical attention.
Fever blisters on lips and/or mouth
A fever blister is a group of small blisters on your lip or inside your mouth that cause red, swollen, painful sores. Fever blisters are caused by an infection with a type of herpes virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV). The first episode of fever blisters usually occurs during childhood or adolescence. You may get subsequent episodes from time to time throughout your life, but they’re not as common after age 40.
Yellow tinted skin (jaundice)
When people have a high level of viremia (the amount of virus in their blood), they are much more likely to pass on HIV to others. This is particularly true if you have jaundice – that is, your skin turns yellow because there’s too much bilirubin in your blood. High levels of bilirubin can indicate a number of things, including hepatitis or gallstones. These two conditions may also cause jaundice and/or make it harder for your body to fight off infections like HIV.
Nausea & vomiting with diarrhea (gastroenteritis)
Many people’s first signs of infection are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is particularly easy to pass on HIV in these early stages because you can pass on a small amount of virus that you may not even know you have. So when you feel better it’s important to still take precautions because it could mean that your immune system is starting to fight off the virus, but hasn’t yet won. This is a good time to get tested.
