There are different types of headaches with different types of causes. The symptoms may vary from benign to severe.
Some headaches have been linked to HIV/AIDS and they are believed to be signs of an early HIV infection.
Here are the headaches that are associated with this life-threatening condition;
1. Migraines
They are common in HIV people and may indicate other illness as well. This headache is normally kindled by many factors. It can arise from the expansion of arteries (also referred to as dilation) in the brain and scalp.
Migraine headaches also occur when the macrophages lining the blood vessels in the brain undergo degranulation. This leads to the development of inflammation around the vessels that results in headache, according to Michael Moskowitz, MD of Havard Medical School.
This doesn't necessarily mean that migraines are always a sign of HIV infection. You can confirm by having an HIV test.
While they are usually a sign of many conditions such as malaria, stress and tension, they are common among HIV patients.
Signs and symptoms of this headache may include a feeling of tenderness on the head, neck, shoulders and face.
You may experience pressure behind your eyes and light and noise sensitivity. If you have been experiencing this headache from time to time, it will be wise if you visit a VCT.
3. Substantial and severe impact headaches
They have also been linked to HIV. These headaches can sometimes be mistaken for another illness. They are recurrent and severe and come with many symptoms.