An
infection causing disease with a sudden onset, severity and (often) short course. As related to HIV
infection: Once the
virus enters the body, HIV infects a large number of CD4+
T cells and replicates rapidly. During this acute or primary phase of
infection, the blood contains many viral particles that spread throughout the body, seeding themselves in various organs, particularly the lymphoid tissues. See also
Acute Retroviral Syndrome;
CD4 (
T4) or CD4+ Cells;
Infection;
Lymphoid Organs.