Question
Are night sweats a common symptom of HIV?
16 December 2007. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.
My boyfriend has been getting really bad night sweats for last year. He put himself at risk about 5 years ago and had unprotected sex.
Is it likely he has HIV? Otherwise he is healthy. Is this a common symptom of HIV?
Answer
Some people with HIV have night sweats. They are also sometimes a very early symptom of early infection. This is in the first few weeks though and they usually disappear after this. Night sweats can be caused for many reasons though are necessarily related to HIV infection.
There may be many other underlying reasons for this. Perhaps it is a good idea to discuss the situation with the GP and he/she may come with suggestions for some further medical examinations for finding the reason.
On the other hand, sometimes even one unprotected contact with a positive person can lead to infection. Therefore, it is a good idea your boyfriend to go for a test. Knowing his HIV status will give him the opportunity to make informed choices in the future. If you practise unprotected sex, then going for a test yourself is important too.