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Night sweats are a common symptom of multiple conditions and diseases. They can even be caused by stress or new medications.

They can also be a symptom of an HIV infection.

In some people, night sweats and other flu-like symptoms can develop within the first month after contracting the infection and can lead people to the doctor and a diagnosis.null

Why do people with HIV experience night sweats?

Sweat is your body’s way of responding to things that cause it to work harder than normal, including:

exposure to heat
physical stress
emotional stress
diseases or conditions

Sleep is a vital part of your body’s fight against disease. Your body works to repair itself while you’re asleep. That’s why you often feel much better after a goodnight’s sleep. It’s also why night sweats can happen when your body is trying to fight a serious condition, such as HIV.

Night sweats can be very uncomfortable, potentially causing soaked:

pajamas
underwear
bedsheets
mattresses

Night sweats on their own aren’t usually a symptom of HIV. In fact, it’s very rare for night sweats to be the only symptom a person with HIV will have. When you have night sweats as a symptom of HIV, you’ll likely also have:

These symptoms are also common in other conditions and don’t always mean you have HIV. However, if you’re having night sweats or any other symptoms, and you have reason to think you might have been exposed to HIV, it’s a good idea to call a medical professional as soon as possible.

To get answers quickly, you can take a rapid at-home HIV test.

When might you have night sweats caused by HIV?

Night sweats caused by HIV can occur at a few different times. They often happen during the early phase of HIV called the acute phase.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the acute phase occurs within 2 to 4 weeks after you contract HIV. The symptoms you’ll have during this phase are similar to those with the flu and often include night sweats.

Night sweats can also occur if HIV is untreated and has progres

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