| About
50-70% of patients are estimated to have an acute syndrome occurring
2-6 weeks after acquisition of HIV. However only about 25% of
these patients have symptoms severe enough to seek medical attention.
Generally such patients present with nonspecific symptoms such
as fever, malaise, arthralgias, headache and sore throat with
lymphadenopathy typically attributed to an acute viral infection.
Early invasion of the nervous system may lead to meningitis,
encephalitis, peripheral neuropathy, or myelopathy.
The exanthem of acute HIV infection,
seen in about 25% of patients, is usually a nonspecific erythematous
maculopapular rash which can involve the palms and soles.
There may also be an exanthem presenting with small erosions
or petechiae on the soft palate.
Signs and symptoms of patients
with acute seroconversion illness usually resolve within 2-3
weeks. It has been suggested that persons with a symptomatic
seroconversion syndrome may be at increased risk for a more
accelerated disease course.
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