If Test Results Are Positive

If Test Results Are Positive

Someone who tests positive for HIV should:

• Contact a doctor immediately to discuss ways to slow the progress of the infection. Often a doctor will do more tests to evaluate the status of the virus. A person with a positive test may want to talk to a doctor who is an HIV specialist.
• Stop any activity that has an adverse affect on the body's immune system. These include excessive drinking, drug use, unhealthy eating, and smoking.
• Have additional tests to look for the presence of other STDs and diseases. When HIV was passed on, other STDs may have been passed on as well. Because HIV weakens the immune system, an HIV-positive person's body may need more help fighting off other diseases.

People who discover they are HIV positive may feel frightened, isolated, afraid to talk to friends and family, or worried that they will be discriminated against or misunderstood. Talking to a counselor or other mental health professional can help them deal with these and other feelings.

Some health clinics that specialize in HIV and AIDS offer counseling services or know of support groups for those living with HIV. These safe environments offer a chance to discuss any fears and get answers to questions from people who care and understand what someone with HIV is going through.

There is no cure for HIV, but having the virus is not the death sentence it once was. Governments and scientists are putting a lot of money and research into treating — and, hopefully, eventually curing or immunizing people against — HIV. With treatments improving rapidly, people who find out they have the disease today can look forward to living a normal life for many years to come.