CAVIT Direct Care Worker Fundamentals Practice Exam

Which of the following is a symptom of HIV?

1. Joint pain

2. Rashes and blisters

3. Fever and night sweats

4. Difficulty breathing

The correct answer is: Fever and night sweats

Fever and night sweats are common symptoms associated with HIV, especially during the acute phase of infection. When a person is newly infected with HIV, they may experience flu-like symptoms as their immune system responds to the virus. These symptoms can include a high fever and excessive sweating, particularly at night, as the body attempts to fight off the infection. These early symptoms are often referred to as acute retroviral syndrome, which can occur within 2 to 4 weeks after exposure to the virus. Other symptoms like joint pain, rashes and blisters, or difficulty breathing may occur as HIV progresses or in conjunction with other conditions, but they are not as directly linked to the acute symptoms of HIV infection. Fever and night sweats are more characteristic of the initial immune response to the virus, making this the correct choice in identifying symptoms specifically indicative of HIV.