Definition of Early symptomatic HIV infection:

Early symptomatic HIV infection is a stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus when symptoms are present but AIDS has not yet developed.

See also:

• Acute HIV infection
• Asymptomatic HIV infection
• HIV infection

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Early symptomatic HIV infection has signs and symptoms typical of HIV infection but not full-blown AIDS. The onset of symptoms signals the transition from asymptomatic HIV infection to HIV disease.

At this early stage of HIV infection, the person does not have signs or symptoms of AIDS such as opportunistic infections, certain cancers, or a CD4 count of less than 200.

Risk factors for HIV infection are:

• Being born to an HIV-positive mother
• Receiving a blood transfusion or blood components
• Injection drug use
• Sexual contact with an infected partner in which there is an exchange of semen or vaginal fluids