Medical Conditions - Acute Retroviral Syndrome

Acute retroviral syndrome or acute HIV infection is a syndrome that involves the appearance of symptoms in the initial three to six months of an HIV infection. Identifying the disease in this period can help control the spread and early treatment, thereby reducing the need for high dosage immunosuppressant medications. Symptoms include fever, malaise, anorexia, sweating, lymphadenopathy, lethargy, diarrhea, etc. The presenting symptoms may involve all the body systems. Diagnosis is made by a positive plasma HIV-1 RNA level exceeding 50,000 copies per mL.