I have flu-like symptoms/swollen glands - could it be HIV?

Many illnesses have flu-like symptoms or cause swollen glands. You cannot have HIV unless you have been directly exposed to the virus. HIV can be transmitted during sexual intercourse with an infected person, through contact with infected blood or breastmilk, or during unsafe injections or medical procedures. If you are not sure whether or not you have been at risk of HIV then read our page about how you can and can't be infected with HIV.

The only way you can find out whether or not you have been infected is to have an HIV test.