How is an AIDS diagnosis made?
Healthcare professionals diagnose AIDS based on specific criteria established by health organizations:
Low CD4 Count: A CD4 cell count dropping below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (in a healthy person, this count is typicallyp between 500 and 1,600).
Opportunistic Infections: The presence of one or more "AIDS-defining conditions," which are specific infections or cancers that the body can no longer fight due to the weakened immune system.
Treatment and Management
While there is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS, the disease is highly treatable:
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): This is the standard medical treatment for HIV. It involves taking a combination of daily medications or long-acting injections that stop the virus from multiplying.
Immune Recovery: If individuals with HIV start ART early and take it consistently, they can keep their CD4 counts strong and viral load suppressed, preventing the disease from ever progressing to AIDS.
To learn more about treatment options, testing, or finding a local care provider, visit the HIV.gov Basics resource.
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