Eric S. Daar
from Medscape General Medicine ™

The natural history of HIV infection usually begins within weeks of a sexual or percutaneous exposure to the genital secretions or blood of an infected individual. The diagnosis of primary or acute HIV infection allows for counselling to prevent subsequent transmission to others and enrolment into immunopathogenesis studies. In addition, recent investigation suggests that the initiation of antiretroviral therapy during this stage of disease may have a profound influence on long-term virologic control.

Full text at:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/443820