The Four Stages of HIV Infection
HIV generally progresses through four stages. Symptoms and timing can vary widely from person to person, and some people may have very mild symptoms or none at all for many years — which is why testing is so important.
1. Primary (Acute) HIV Infection
This first stage usually appears 2–4 weeks after exposure, though it can be sooner or later. The virus is rapidly multiplying, and the viral load (amount of virus in the blood) is very high, making this stage highly contagious.
Many people experience a “flu-like” illness that can last for a few days up to several weeks. Others feel almost nothing unusual.
Common symptoms can include:
– Fever
– Headache
– Muscle or joint aches
– Rash
– Sore throat or mouth sores
– Swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck)
– Diarrhea
– Unintentional weight loss
– Cough
– Night sweats
Because these signs are so similar to a regular viral infection, they are often missed or dismissed unless someone knows they may have been exposed to HIV.
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