Question
What is seroconversion and what are the symptoms?
10 February 2023. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.
Answer
HIV seroconversion is a very early stage of HIV infection. It is the time when a person first develops antibodies for HIV.
At this point an HIV antibody test will still be negative. The word just means that your sero status is converting from being HIV antibody negative to HIV antibody positive.
Seroconversion usually occurs starts 1-3 weeks after infection, with average time being around 10 days. Although 4 in 5 people (80%) get symptoms, 1 in 5 (20%) do not.
Seroconversion does not occur if you are on PEP, because PEP drugs suppress the virus. The timing mentioned above would start after the last PEP dose – ie 10 days after the PEP ends.
Symptoms
The symptoms of HIV seroconversion resemble those of a heavy cold or flu.
They commonly involve multiple symptoms that all occur at the same time. They last about a week and then resolve. If you get this heavy response and recently had a risk, it is more important to contact a doctor or clinic. This can decide your level of risk and the best time to test.
However, lots of people get some of these symptoms and it does not mean they are HIV positive. Stress and anxiety can produce similar general symptoms even though without HIV. This includes tiredness from not sleeping, anxiety and worry.
The most common HIV seroconversion symptoms include a combination of several of the following:
- Fatigue (tiredness).
- Fever (high temperature).
- Sore throat.
- Rash.
- Headache.
- Loss of appetite.
- Aching muscles and joints.
- Swollen lymph glands.
Seroconversion involves several symptoms that all start at the same time. Only having one or two of these symptoms is unlikely to be HIV.
These symptoms are not a reliable way of diagnosing HIV infection.
Firstly, 20% of people who become infected with HIV have no symptoms. Secondly, none of the symptoms listed above, on their own, are an indication of HIV.
However, if you get several of these symptoms at the same time AND you have had a recent risk of exposure to HIV, then this MIGHT be an indication of infection.
The only way to know if you are HIV positive is by taking an HIV test. More information on tests is at this link.
If you have recently been exposed to HIV, or think you may have been exposed to HIV, then contact a doctor or sexual health clinic to talk about whether testing for HIV is appropriate.
This answer was updated in 2016, 2018 and 2023 from an original Q&A from 2008. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about HIV transmission and risk. (See: Question 1 at this link).
Am a female Please I had an unprotected sex with a new male partner who was tested negative I started having sore throat, muscle ache and swollen lymph on the neck this is three weeks after exposure I tested negative and new partner tested negative am scared I have hiv
Hi Thomas,
If you’re HIV test result comes back positive, please get back in touch with us. We’ll be able to give you some useful information.
In the Beginning of 2016 I was hospitalised and my ENT doctor told me that I have bronchitis. Was hospitalised for a week every thing was ok after that. In the end of 2016 I was hospitalised that due to tonsillitis it took a week after being discharge from the hospital not even 24 hours was admitted back to the hospital due to Fever, Red Rash, Fever and Platelet (White Blood Cell) was dropping but doctor declare that is chikungunya in April i have my tonsil remove. Now I’m doing medical check up and my VDRL (syphilis) is positive, but my HIV test is still pending. Is it mean that I have HIV? Will know the result this Monday. I did some unprotected sex sometimes. I do need you guys prayer and hope that the result will turn negative and I promise that I gonna be good boy after this.
Hi Drew,
Please see Q1 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi, I had sex with an escort on the 12/11/2016, the condom broke and I immediately replaced it. On the 5th and 18th December I had sex with another escort, both times with protection, although I did receive unprotected oral sex.
On 25/01/17 I became ill and still m up yo this day, 3 wee later. I started having what felt like a fever, although I didn’t actually check my temperature. That passed in 24 hours. The following day I had a stomach pain which felt like when I previously had gastroenteritis and weak legs which felt unsteady. I also had a slight headache. Over the last 3 weeks the headache has remained but got worse and my legs are still weak, I also have a dry cough for nearly 2 weeks. Over the last 3 days I have checked my temperature, which always came back normal even though I felt hot. However, today my temperature was high at 100.2. I did also have had a slight earache since yesterday. What is even more worrying, is that my partner and I had unprotected sex a day before I felt ill and has had a headache since a day after I became ill.
What are your initial thoughts please?
Hi Papa,
Please see question one here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
What is the likelihood of HIV infection if you have four of the symptoms above five days after sex. Precisely Fatique, sorethroat, headache, aching muscle and joints. After one month I did a test and it was negative. One week after the test I started having funny feelings in my neck, groin and muscle spasm in legs, neck and entire body in general. I feel something moving in my groin and neck. Spasm I guess. I need your advice
Hi Emma,
Do you mean can it happen several times? If you do, then no. The above post explains what seroconversion is and what happens when people seroconvert.
Is seroconversion sickness recurrent?
Hi St,
For more on transmission and seroconversion please see the following links:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
https://i-base.info/qa/284
If you think that you may have been at risk, the only thing you can do is to test.