What is Seroconversion Rash?

HIV is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus. That is the virus that targets the immunity mechanism and causes Acquired immunodeficiency situation (AIDS), one of just about the most serious diseases known so that you can mankind. This virus is mainly spread by sexual hitting the ground with an HIV infected people. Other ways of HIV sign include transfusion of polluted blood, sharing needles/syringes which use traces of blood on the infected person or because of an infected mother to be able to her child. Once you are exposed to the disease, the immune system reacts to presence of this pathogen. As an immune solution, antibodies are released towards fight the antigen. The process of expansion of specific antibodies to help you pathogens in blood on account of infection or immunization is called serocoversion.

HIV Seroconversion Rash

This rash develops during the seroconversion period. This period may be explained as the dormant time span after the contraction of the disease. It is the second and comparatively nascent stage of the disease. After the initial exposure to the virus, seroconversion rashes appear 2 to 3 weeks later. It has been studied that almost 90% of the HIV patients tend to suffer from HIV seroconversion rashes.

A HIV test, during the seroconversion period, may not detect any tinge of HIV antibodies, as this stage is too early to create them. One may have contracted the HIV virus, but the tests may show negative due to the lack of antibodies in the blood.

The rashes that arise during this period are small red rashes on the skin of the trunk. Seroconversion rashes are also called acute rashes.

Seroconversion rash occurs due to three reasons:

• When one has contracted HIV- This does not happen immediately after the contraction It is mostly seen after two or three weeks of the contraction. At this time, one may not even realize that is the early symptom of HIV and might refuse to go to a doctor, mistaking it for a normal rash. This way, many a times, HIV remains undiagnosed at an early stage.
• Side effects of HIV treatment medicines- A person already diagnosed with HIV may get rashes on his skin, as side effects of his early treatments. This happens because the skin reacts to the chemical components of the anti-HIV vaccines.
• Occasionally, due to contagiousness- Sometimes one may get infected with seroconversion rashes, when his skin comes in contact with skin infections of a HIV positive person. However, this does not mean, that this person will also catch HIV through such skin disease acquired from others. He will just get the skin infection.

One must realize that having a seroconversion rash does not always mean AIDS. It may just be the initial or mid stage of HIV infection, which can be treated. It should also be noted that getting a rash from an HIV positive person, does not lead to HIV in the new person. In fact, the doctors say, a situation like this, is not a matter of concern at all. These rashes can be treated with normal medicines.

Symptoms of HIV Seroconversion

Once the antibodies to the virus develop fully and become detectable in blood, the seroconversion period is said to be complete. A test that is conducted before this time will not give the correct results. Seroconversion starts about two weeks after the exposure to the virus. It can take a couple of months before the test results come positive. Since the immune system is busy producing antibodies, various symptoms are experienced during this period. These include:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Mouth ulcers
• Headaches
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Development of rashes

If HIV is detected early during this phase, aggressive anti-retroviral therapy can be initiated. Rashes that are characteristic of the process of seroconversion often appear about two to three weeks from the exposure to the virus. An awareness of the characteristic symptoms of this rash can therefore help in early detection of this deadly disease.

How can seroconversion rashes be treated?

These rashes usually perish on their own. Still, it is wiser to consult a physician, who can diagnose the reason for such rashes. In case, the patient is detected as HIV positive, then the physician can find out which stage of the disease he is going through. One should stay away from direct sunlight, extreme heat or extreme cold. Apart from that

• Antihistamine drugs can cure seroconversion rashes
• Intravenous fluids and antibiotics can also be helpful

Rashes are a very common symptom of AIDS, though; they are not the most certain ones. Thus, a person belonging to the high-risk group should not always panic if he sees a rash on his skin. At the early stage, these rashes can be treated and at the same time, even HIV can be curbed to some extent.