Conflicting info.

I have been reading online some conflicing information about seroconversion.  Some sights say 20% and some say 80% of people experience flu like symptoms after contracting hiv.  What is the actual percentage?  I also wonder what percentage experience rash and is this quite noticeable?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  You are correct that there is a broad range of estimates as to how common flu-like symptoms are among persons seroconverting for HIV.  The variation reflects several things including the methods of determining whether or not a person had symptoms and the sorts of symptoms that were recorded.  If all that was required was a sweats and muscle aches, then I get ARS-like symptoms every time I work out.  On the other hand, if it is the bet described and classic description, the syndrome includes fever, chills, muscle aches, and skin rash and this combination of finding is present in less, and probably substantially less than half of persons who seroconvert for HIV.  The broad range and disagreement is also, and most importantly, a measure of just how non-specific the symptoms or the ARS are and the reason that trying to judge HIV risk is a complete waste of time.

As far as the rash is concerned, it is present in patients with classical seroconversion but may be overlook by some clinicians.  EWH