Treatment

there is no cure for aids at this time. However, several treatments are available that can delay the progression of disease for many years and improve the quality of life of those who have developed symptoms.



Support groups

joining support groups where members share common experiences and problems can often help the emotional stress of devastating illnesses. See aids - support group.



Complications

when a patient is infected with hiv, the virus slowly begins to destroy that patient's immune system. How fast this occurs is different in each individual. Treatment with haart can help slow and even halt the destruction of the immune system.



However, once the immune system is severely destroyed, that patient is said to have developed aids, and is now susceptible to infections and cancers that most healthy adults would not get.



Calling your health care provider

call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have any of the risk factors for aids, or if symptoms of aids are present. By law, aids testing must be kept confidential. Your health care provider will review results of your testing with you.