Are there any symptoms of HIV?

Am I displaying early symptoms of HIV?

• Hi, I am a 19 year old male who had sex for the first time approximately 5 weeks ago. Although it is common history for me to get the flu around christmas time, (not to mention it is going around my village), I am a self confessed hypochondriac and despite the fact I used a Durex Latex condom I am worrying that my flu symptoms are the starting signs of a HIV infection. According to what I have read one recieves HIV symptoms within 2-4 weeks of potential exposure of very high fever, a very sore throat and a full body rash, according to medical websites these usually always appear together, despite the fact it is a harsh winter here in England and the flu is going around it has been 5 weeks since my potential exposure so I feel it potentially coincides. Since it was my first time having sex I am worried that the condom ripped, however from what I have heard if such a thing happened it would be very noticeable, and all seemed to go smoothly when it all happened so I doubt that happened. At the moment I have flu like symptoms of a chesty cough, slight headache which is being easily managed by ibuprofen, fluctuating temperatures, earache to a small degree which began 5 days before my flu symptoms, abdominal pain and throat pain (though this only occurred after my constant coughing caused my gag reflex to make me quite uncomfortably vomit). Take note I DO NOT have a full body rash, so am experiencing 2 of the 3 noted symptoms of early HIV exposure. Although I am naturally going to get an STI test I have two questions I need to ask to put my mind at ease. a) Is it true that HIV does not show up on an STI test until 6 months after potential exposure? If so are there other ways in which I could potentially get a faster test? b) Do you believe this is more a case of myself being a hypochondriac rather than me displaying HIV symptoms? A few of my friends and according to me GP quite a lot of the village are currently suffering from flu, am I just jumping to conclusions due to the fact I always fear the worse? After all flu infections are naturally most common around christmas time, and as I'm a student I've been drinking a lot of alcohol, not eating the best foods and as I bike to lectures I am spending a lot of time in temperatures below 0c. Any answers I can get that might put my mind at ease would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

• Answer:

  It is extremely unlikely you have HIV, since you haven't done anything particularly risky. It's much more likely that your flu symptoms are caused by the flu. a) No. Something like 90% of people infected will have detectable antibodies at three weeks, 97% at three months, and 99.7% by six months. b) Yes.