Hair Loss Could I Have Acute HIV Infection

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The Stages of HIV Disease

HIV Is a Continuum Infection Primary Infection (or Acute Infection) Seroconversion The Asymptomatic Stage Early- and Medium-Stage HIV Symptomatic Disease Late-Stage HIV Disease (AIDS) HIV Is a Continuum Most of us are used to thinking of disease in very simple terms: if you feel sick, you are sick; if you feel healthy, you are healthy. However, because HIV may begin causing subtle changes in the immune system long before an infected...

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HIV & Hair Loss

I contracted HIV at almost 50 years of age. I had a severe acute infection, with over 750k copies/ml. I was sick for about three to four weeks. First five months, I took Kaletra and Truvada, then switched to Atripla, which I have taken ever since. I...

Response from Nelson Vergel, B.S.Ch.E., M.B.A.

Program for Wellness Restoration

Excessive and rapid hair loss can be caused by medications, hormone changes, stress, poor nutrition (zinc deficiencies), autoimmune disease and genetics. All of this factors can affect hair follicle health. Hair loss is more prominent before age 45... Read more »

Hair loss with a new HIV infection

I suffered flu-like symptoms as a result of my new HIV infection in late February and most of March. I felt better in April but felt very stressed after learning I was positive. Since mid-April to now, 2 1/2 months later, I have been experiencing...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Hair loss can occur in some patients due to stress. In a minority of newly HIV infected patients hair loss may seem to increase. Any of the recommended regimens (efavirenz, boosted protease inhibitor, or raltegravir based) have pluses and minuses... Read more »

Hair loss & Kaletra

I had a bad acute phase in late July-early August. My doctor was particularly concerned that I was having headaches and urged me to start HAART immediately, which I did. I have been on a Truvada/Kaletra regimen since August 10 and my viral load...

Response from Gerald Pierone, M.D.

AIDS Research and Treatment Center of the Treasure Coast

Hello, and thanks for posting. Although hair loss is a rare complication of antiretroviral therapy, it certainly may occur. Since you have other therapy options it would be reasonable to switch the Kaletra and Truvada to the simpler regimen of... Read more »

Hair Loss and HIV?

Hi Dr. Young,I'm wondering if hair loss is a common symptom of ongoing HIV infection? I have been losing a lot of hair recently (much more than usual), and my scalp seems crusty and sensitive. When I scratch my scalp, there is always crust...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Thanks for your post and words.Hair loss is not a commonly reported side effect of HIV medications, save for known issues with the now-old protease inhibitor, indinavir (Crixivan). It's also not thought to be associated with HIV, as far as I... Read more »

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hair loss

Posted by mistake1, 1 Reply

does anyone know if hair loss is an hiv symptom and itchy skin also?
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Acute HIV Infection Overview

Posted by Anonymous

1. Acute HIV-1 Infection
Marcus Altfeld and Bruce D. Walker

Introduction

Acute HIV-1 infection presents in 40 - 90 % of cases as a transient symptomatic illness, associated with high levels of HIV-1 replication and an expansive virus-specific immune... Read more »

Hair Loss

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I was just reading a question to Dr. Henry about hair loss and Crixivan. I'm on Crixivan, Epivir and AZT. I've been on this regimen since the advent of protease inhibitors. Early on I lost ALL of my underarm hair, thigh hair and butt hair. I've... Read more »

Acute HIV Infection

Posted by lafcadio, 1 Reply

I came down with text book Acute HIV Infection three weeks ago after having unsafe sex. My lymph nodes got swollen and achy, I got these little shivers running through my body, I feel like I have bleach in my veins. I'm tired and sweat constantly. I... Read more »

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