Fever & Acute HIV Syndrome

HIV is a progressive disease, with distinct stages being evident, from transmission until late-stage AIDS development. Acute HIV infection is one of the earliest periods, when tests do not even detect the virus in the body, but which can cause fever and other flu-like symptoms.

Acute HIV Infection

• The acute stage of HIV infection, known as "primary HIV infection," "acute HIV syndrome" and "seroconversion," is the stage during which the virus is propagating but not actively harming the body.

Fever and Other Symptoms

• Fever is one of the most common symptoms that occurs during acute HIV infection. Other symptoms include weakness and fatigue, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.

Severity of Fevers

• High fevers or chronic low-grade fevers occur in approximately 95 percent of all people going through acute HIV infection. Severity can vary from one person to the next and is often confused for flu or mononucleosis.

Diagnosis of HIV Infection

• Diagnosis of HIV during the acute infection stage can be very difficult. There generally isn't enough HIV in the body to cause positive results in the antibody tests that are most commonly used to diagnose the infection.

Treatment of Fevers and HIV Infection

• Fevers associated with acute HIV infection can be treated using standard over-the-counter medications in much the same way that flu- or cold-related fevers would be treated. HIV infection is much more difficult to deal with, however, as common antiretroviral medications are not recommended while the immune system is still healthy, as early treatment can lead to viral resistance to the medicines.