|  | Conditions Treatments | HIV AIDS

Acute HIV Symptoms and Duration

Acute, or primary HIV infection, is the first stage of HIV illness. During this time, those that do develop symptoms experience a flu-like illness. However, not everyone undergoing acute HIV infection experiences symptoms.

  1. Symptoms

    • The most common symptoms associated with acute HIV infection are similar to the flu. According to the HIV Symptoms site, these include fever, headache, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, aches and pains, fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea and skin rashes.

    Duration

    • According to AIDS Clinical Care Watch, the symptoms of acute HIV infection normally last for about two weeks.

    Time Frame

    • AIDS Clinical Care Watch reports that symptoms of acute HIV infection appear between five to 30 days after exposure to the virus. It is during this time that the immune system is launching its first offense against the virus. Also, when a detectable level of antibodies to the virus develops (seroconversion) a person will reliably test positive for HIV.

    Diagnosis

    • A team from the Burns and Allen Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center concluded that none of the symptoms of acute HIV infection reliably lead diagnosticians to conclude that HIV may be present; that is, these symptoms will not reliably cause doctors to an HIV diagnosis.

    Considerations

    • Because the symptoms of acute HIV greatly resemble those of other, less serious infections and because not everyone develops symptoms during acute infection, it is important to be tested between one to six months after possible exposure to HIV.

HIV AIDS - Related Articles