Most shrug off this early illness as being a nondescript viral illness. It does not last. People recover rapidly. An average of eight to 10 years after infection, the signs of AIDS appear. The virus can weaken lung defenses, making breathing difficult and pneumonia a frequent consequence.
Body temperature skyrockets.
Purple patches can appear on the skin. Weight melts off the body. Confusion can often fog the brain. Specific tests for the virus become positive. Up until that time, the virus has been in a dormant state.