Stages of HIV infection

With treatment, the course of disease is not always toward progression. Individuals can be diagnosed at all stages and many respond well to treatment. Viral loads can be reduced for indefinite amounts of time and CD4 counts also rise, as well as fall. For some people, their condition can remain stable over time and earlier problems or opportunistic infections may abate. The timing and occurrence of opportunistic infections, the response of the immune system, and the response to treatment are highly individual.

Common myths about how HIV is spread

Common myths about how HIV is spread

These are some of the circumstances you don't have to worry about because they will not put you at risk for becoming infected with HIV:

	Being bitten by a mosquito or other bugs, being bitten by an animal.
	Eating food handled, prepared or served by somebody who is HIV positive.
	Sharing toilets, telephones or clothing.
	Sharing forks, spoons, knives, or drinking glasses.
	Touching, hugging or kissing a person who is HIV positive.
	Attending school, church, restaurants, shopping malls or other public places where there are HIV-positive people.
	HIV cannot be transmitted though urine, feces, vomit, or sweat. It is present, but only in negligible quantities, in tears and blister fluid. It is present in minute amounts in saliva in a very small number of people.