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Early symptomatic HIV infection

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Definition:

Early symptomatic HIV infection is the stage of viral infection caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) when symptoms have begun but before the development of AIDS (which involves life-threatening infections).

Alternative Names:

AIDS-related complex - ARC; Chronic symptomatic HIV infection

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Early symptomatic HIV infection is characterized by signs and symptoms typical of HIV infection but not full-blown AIDS. These symptoms are usually not present in asymptomatic HIV infection .

The onset of symptoms signals the transition from HIV infection to HIV disease. However, at this stage of HIV infection, the person does not have AIDS symptoms such as opportunistic infections and/or certain cancers or a CD4 count of less than 200.

Risk factors for HIV infection are sexual contact with an infected sexual partner that includes exchange of semen or vaginal secretions, intravenous drug use, receipt of blood transfusion or blood components, or being born to an HIV-positive mother.

• Review Date: 2/13/2006
• Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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