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Primary infection with HIV

When you first become infected with HIV it is known as the 'primary infection'. You may not have any symptoms at this time. However, many people develop symptoms similar to flu or glandular fever. This commonly happens 2-6 weeks after becoming infected. This is sometimes called 'seroconversion illness' as it is the time when antibodies first appear in the bloodstream (see below). Symptoms may include: fever, sore throat, blotchy red rash, feeling sick, diarrhoea, swollen glands, tiredness and general aches and pains. These symptoms only last a week or so, and are often just thought of as 'flu' or a 'virus illness', and then forgotten about. This is not AIDS but just an initial reaction to being infected with HIV.

In a small number of cases, the primary infection quickly progresses into a meningitis-like illness.

After the primary infection

After any primary infection settles, without any treatment you can remain without any symptoms for several years. This is commonly 8 or 9 years, but it can be less or more. As there are often no symptoms during this time, many people do not realize that they are infected with HIV. However, the virus continues to multiply, the number of CD4 T-cells tends to gradually fall, and you can pass on the virus to others. During this time some people with HIV who are otherwise well develop persistent swollen lymph glands (persistent generalised lymphadenopathy) and/or night sweats.

In time you may start to develop problems such as recurring mouth ulcers, recurring herpes or shingles infections, or severe seborrhoeic dermatitis (a skin condition caused by a yeast). Old TB (tuberculosis) infection may 'reactivate' in some cases even before 'full blown' AIDS develops, especially in people in the developing world.

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