People infected with HIV may be at different stages of the disease as it progresses from HIV infection to AIDS (Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Some people can test positive for HIV infection in the early stages of the disease and they do not have life-threatening symptoms of the illness.

Others may not get tested until they do not feel well; these people may find out that they are HIV positive when the disease is further along and may have already progressed to AIDS.

The progression from HIV to AIDS

• Patients may be at different stages of the disease, from HIV infection to AIDS
• Testing for HIV gives you a better chance to slow or prevent progression to AIDS
• While HIV medications do not cure HIV or AIDS, they can help your loved one fight HIV

Testing for HIV before the virus is able to damage the immune system and produce symptoms gives people a better chance to slow or prevent some of the possible health consequences of HIV. There are a number of tests that can determine the stage of HIV infection.

• Viral load tests measure the amount of virus in the bloodstream. They can generally predict how quickly HIV will damage the immune system. In effect, these tests predict the loss of CD4 cells: the higher the number, the greater the risk of damage to your immune system.
• CD4 cell count tests determine the number of CD4 cells in your blood, which is a measure of your immune system health.

Using effective treatments can greatly reduce the level of HIV and increase CD4 cell counts. While your loved one's HIV medications do not cure HIV or AIDS, they can help fight HIV by preventing the virus from making copies of itself and attacking more CD4 cells.

Please see the Treatment information of this section for more information.

This information is intended only as an educational aid and is not intended as medical advice. This information is not intended to discuss information related to your HIV treatment options. As always, talk to your healthcare professionals if you have any questions related to treatment or health status.

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