Asymptomatic HIV infection

Alternative names:

HIV infection - asymptomatic

Treatment:

Combination antiretroviral therapy is recommended for symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-infected persons whose CD4 cell counts are 500 or less, or patients who have an HIV RNA viral load greater than 10,000 copies. Patients must be committed to taking the therapy or they risk developing antiviral resistant HIV.

People with HIV infection need to receive education about the disease and treatment so that they can be active partners in decision making with the health care provider.

Support groups:

The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. See AIDS - support group.

Expectations (prognosis):

HIV is a chronic medical condition that can be treated but not yet cured. There are effective means of delaying progression to AIDS and preventing complications.

Complications:

• chronic symptomatic HIV infection
• development of opportunistic infections associated with HIV
• transmitting disease from HIV positive mother to fetus during pregnancy

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if risk factors are present for HIV infection, or if HIV infection has been diagnosed and symptoms begin to develop.

Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial