Early Signs Of HIV To Be Aware Of

Muscle And Joint Pain

Other common symptoms of HIV infection are chronic muscle and joint or body pain, as well as rheumatic disease. These symptoms can all be caused by the HIV, or by other viruses and bacteria. The chronic pain caused by muscle and joint aches could be due to the infection alone or the drugs that treat it. The inflammation caused by HIV and the medications gets into muscles and joints creating chronic, persistent pain throughout the body. Joint aches occur in forty-five percent of people living with HIV. While no apparent cause has been identified, patients can receive relief through nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Patients who suffered from arthritis prior to being infected with HIV may find their arthritis worsens in the presence of HIV.