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last update February 2003
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| Primary
HIV Syndrome |
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- Earliest clinical
manifestations of HIV infection are known as "primary HIV
syndrome."
- Common symptoms
include: fever; a maculopapular rash on the trunk and extremities;
myalgias and arthralgias; lymphadenopathy; hepatitis; and
diarrhea.
- Laboratory abnormalities
may include: atypical lymphocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia,
and increased liver function tests.
- Since these symptoms
are relatively nonspecific and may not be severe, they are
sometimes attributed to a bad cold, "the flu," or mononucleosis.
- The diagnosis
of primary HIV syndrome is established by a detectable viral
load in the context of a negative antibody test.
- Several weeks
to a few months pass before the antibody test becomes positive.
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