Acute Stage
This is the beginning of the viral attack. At this point, the virus just entered the body and has begun to engage the body’s immune system. Most people would not show any signs of HIV until within 2 to 6 weeks after they have been infected. At the onset of the acute stage, the body’s immune system struggles to put up a fight. The symptoms last up to a week or two. Clinically, it is referred to as the retroviral syndrome, and the symptoms are usually similar to those of flu. They are discussed shortly, in the “Early Signs of HIV Infection” section.[2]
