When do acute hiv symptoms start

Anyone who may have had exposure to the virus and who has acute symptoms should seek medical advice. As other diseases can present similarly, having symptoms does not necessarily mean that HIV is present.

However, if a test is positive, the current treatment for HIV is highly effective, especially if people start treatment early. The symptoms of acute HIV usually occur 2—4 weeks after infection. The most common symptoms of acute HIV infection are:. Many of these symptoms are self-limiting, and people can manage them with medications that relieve pain, swelling, or fever.

It is essential for people to have a test if they have flu-like symptoms and either believe that they may have had exposure to the virus or know themselves to be at risk. Relieving the acute symptoms will not treat the infection or lower the viral load, and it will not prevent long-term HIV complications. If a person has an early diagnosis, they can start using antiretroviral treatments to help manage the infection, reduce the amount of virus in their body, and eliminate the risk of the virus transmitting to another person.

Find out more about the early signs and symptoms of HIV. However, if a person has symptoms and may have had exposure to the virus — for example, by sharing needles or having sex with a new partner without using a condom or other barrier method — they should consider HIV testing.

Various tests can detect HIV, but not all of them will be accurate at the acute stage, as the body is still producing the antibodies. HIV antibody tests can detect antibodies in blood and saliva. They may not show that HIV is present in the early stages, as it can take 23—90 days for enough antibodies to develop. Home testing kits are available for purchase online. Nucleic acid tests NAT , which use blood from a vein, can show how much virus is present in the blood. They can detect the virus sooner than other tests but are expensive.

A person can do this 10—33 days after possible exposure. If the test uses blood from a vein, the results are usually accurate 18—45 days after exposure. This window is 18—90 days for a finger prick test. The results of tests that use blood from a vein can take several days to return.

However, behavioral factors may put certain groups at an increased risk for HIV. These include:. Antibodies are proteins that recognize and destroy harmful substances, such as viruses and bacteria. The presence of certain antibodies usually indicates a current infection.

However, it can take several weeks after an initial transmission for HIV antibodies to appear. The healthcare provider may also have them repeat the antibody test a few weeks later to see if any antibodies have developed. An antigen is a foreign substance that causes an immune response in the body.

People who take a 4th generation test or p24 antigen blood test will also need to confirm their HIV status with a viral load test. Proper treatment is crucial for people diagnosed with HIV. Healthcare providers and scientists agree that early treatment with antiretroviral drugs should be used by all HIV-positive people who are ready to start taking a daily medication.

In addition to medical treatment, healthcare providers may also suggest certain lifestyle adjustments , including:. The outlook is best for people who begin treatment before HIV has damaged their immune system. Successful treatment improves both the life expectancy and quality of life of someone living with HIV. In most cases, HIV is considered a chronic condition and can be managed long term. HIV is forever and is better treated sooner rather than later.

The chronic stage of infection occurs once the immune system brings the virus under control. During this phase, HIV will go into hiding, where it resides in various cells and tissues throughout the body in a dormant state known as latency. HIV latency can persist without symptoms for 10 years or more, although some people may experience signs within a year or two.

During the early chronic phase, lymphadenopathy may be the only notable sign of an HIV infection. In some cases, the glands may be visibly enlarged and reach up to an inch or more in size. Even during latency, the virus will multiple imperceptibly and gradually deplete immune cells known as CD4 T-cells. As immune deficiency develops, a number of nonspecific symptoms are likely to appear, including:. More-persistent or more-severe symptoms of HIV infection may not appear for several years after the initial infection.

The symptoms that indicate an early HIV infection are extremely common. Often, you can't tell them apart from symptoms of another viral infection. If you're concerned that you might have been exposed to HIV, talk to your doctor about your testing options. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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