symptoms hiv/aids
Advanced Symptoms of HIV/AIDS. As HIV progresses, there may be bouts of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Other symptoms include severe headache, joint pain, and muscle aches. Shortness of breath, chronic cough, and difficulty swallowing are not uncommon. In the later stages, HIV can lead to short-term memory loss, mental confusion, and coma. The most advanced stage of HIV is called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). At this stage, the immune system is severely compromised and infections become increasingly difficult to fight off.