Question about inital HIV infection?

I'm not actually worried about this, but I am interested, the rash that is associated with HIV...when does that usually occur, and how long does it last?
Is it painful? Where does it usually appear?

Yes there is typical rash associated with primary HIV infection (the seroconversion illness, also known as acute HIV syndrome) which usually occurs around 2 to 4 weeks after infection with the virus. About 80% of people who get HIV get the seroconversion illness, the majority with a characteristic rash.

The rash can be itchy but is not usually especially painful, can occur anywhere on the body but especially on the chest, face and collar area and is usually flat or nearly flat, with reddish dots from a few millimetres to a centimetre in diameter. It is usually accompanied by a high fever, and often other symptoms such as mouth ulcers and swollen lymph nodes. It tends to last a week or two.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs...

It is quite different from other skin mainfestations of later HIV disease like Kaposi's sarcoma, shingles, or other viral or fungal skin infections, and is a major sign doctors look out for in someone who may be seroconverting for HIV.

Are you serious? You're waiting for a rash to tell you if your have HIV??? Isn't that waiting a little too long???

Go get tested. In most cities, there are places where you can do this for free if you're not covered. The Board of Health, etc.

Some places even have an instant-results test -- a swabbing of the mouth gathers cells to test for the infection.

Please go soon.

Rashes don't come until later on in the disease, like years. They are painful and itchy at certain times in there development.

There is no specific rash associated with HIV. HIV is an immune disorder which means that the person who suffers from HIV/AIDS is suceptable to any type of infection that may or may not cause a rash.
Some refer to Kaposi's Sarcoma as the AIDS rash. These are actually individual cancerous lesions caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels. It can can occur internally, especially in the intestines, lymph nodes, and lungs, and in this case is life threatening. The cancer may spread and also attack the eyes.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/to...

The rash you are wondering about is called kaposis sarcoma.It's a cancer that you don't get till you have full blown AIDS.