Ryan, I know that many people are concerned about symptoms that might be related to Acute Viral Syndrome or to a simple flu. So am I. What I really would like to know: how long does it take before the early symptoms of an infection occur? I have seen information on the Internet that differ a lot. Anything from 10-14 days up to six weeks can be found. What is the average time for Acute Viral Syndrome to occur? I went through symptoms like cough, sore throat,body aches and sinusitis (viscous mucus in the nose) with no fever exactly seven weeks and three days after some potentially risky behavior. Is it unlikely that these symptoms are related to HIV because more than seven weeks is just a too long period? I practised some active oral sex with a guy with some pre-cum but no cum involved. As far as I know I did not have any open cuts or abrasions in the mouth. Was this rather low risk for HIV? Based on fear I tend to think that I got infected with HIV after every single sexual activity. Is there anything I can do to reduce my fear? Are there any books about Aids-Anxiety? Thank you for your answer to my three questions

Acute retroviral syndrome usually appears 2-4 weeks after infection. It's possible that it could take longer. Most information out there states that it shouldn't take longer than three months to seroconvert, but a small minority of people have taken longer.

Receptive oral sex without ejaculation in the mouth is considered a low-risk activity, especially if you are in a low-risk population.

Try having a dialogue with someone about your anxieties. I'd recommend someone who has experience dealing with these issues. It really depends on your situation and what kinds of services are available to you. You could always call up a local AIDS organization for advice.

I'm thinking about writing that book on AIDS anxiety.

RMK