The characteristic corresponding to the acute stage of HIV infection is a temporary fall of Cd₄⁺ T cells, which occurs during the initial weeks after infection and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Characteristic of Acute HIV Infection
The characteristic that corresponds with the acute stage of HIV infection is a temporary fall of Cd₄⁺ T cells. During this stage, which generally occurs two to four weeks after the initial HIV infection, patients may experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, weight loss, sore throat, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. These symptoms are caused by the rapid replication of the virus and the consequent immune response, which includes a drop in the number of circulating helper T cells (CD4 T cells). However, after this initial response, the number of CD4 T cells tends to recover somewhat as the viral load decreases due to the action of killer T cells and production of HIV antibodies.
Burkitt's lymphoma, persistent fevers and night sweats, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia are not characteristics of the acute stage of HIV infection but are instead commonly associated with later stages, specifically the stage of AIDS, when the immune system becomes severely compromised.