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Ency. home > Disease > E > Early symptomatic HIV infection

Early symptomatic HIV infection    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

AIDS-related complex - ARC; Chronic symptomatic HIV infection

Treatment

Many of the symptoms of early symptomatic HIV infection can be successfully treated with medications. More importantly, the treatment of the HIV infection can prevent the onset of many of these conditions.

Antiviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV infection in the body. A combination of several antiretroviral agents, termed Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) has been highly effective in reducing the number of HIV particles in the blood stream, and as a result, increasing the CD4 count.

However, although people on HAART have suppressed levels of HIV, they can still transmit the virus to others through sex or needle sharing. HAART is not a cure for HIV, but the treatment shows promise.

Prognosis

There is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS. However, the advent of anti-retroviral therapy and HAART can dramatically improve the length and quality of life for people infected with HIV, and can delay the onset of AIDS. Treatments of conditions associated with early symptomatic HIV disease are variably effective, with some infections and disease processes being more readily treatable with medications.

Complications

Advanced HIV disease (AIDS), characterized by the development of opportunistic infections and malignancies, may develop.

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of chronic symptomatic HIV infection are present.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have chronic symptomatic HIV infection and develop new symptoms.

Ency. home > Disease > E > Early symptomatic HIV infection

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