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What if I test positive for HIV?
If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your
health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can
help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of
AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. There are a
number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your
health:
See a licensed health care provider, even if you do not feel sick. Try
to find a health care provider who has experience treating HIV.
There are now many medications to treat HIV infection and help you
maintain your health. It is never too early to start thinking about
treatment possibilities.
Have a TB (tuberculosis) test. You may be infected with TB and not
know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness, but it can be
successfully treated if caught early.
Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, or using illegal
drugs (such as methamphetamines) can weaken your immune
system. There are programs available that can help you stop or
reduce your use of these substances.
Get screened for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Undetected STDs can cause serious health problems. It is also
important to practice safe-sex behaviors so you can avoid getting
STDs.
There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learn all that you can
about maintaining good health.
If you choose to have sex, use a latex condom to help protect your
partner from HIV and other STDs. Studies have shown that latex
condoms are very effective, though not 100%, in preventing HIV
transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner
is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the
male or female can be used
If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your
health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can
help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of
AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. There are a
number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your
health:
See a licensed health care provider, even if you do not feel sick. Try
to find a health care provider who has experience treating HIV.
There are now many medications to treat HIV infection and help you
maintain your health. It is never too early to start thinking about
treatment possibilities.
Have a TB (tuberculosis) test. You may be infected with TB and not
know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness, but it can be
successfully treated if caught early.
Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, or using illegal
drugs (such as methamphetamines) can weaken your immune
system. There are programs available that can help you stop or
reduce your use of these substances.
Get screened for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Undetected STDs can cause serious health problems. It is also
important to practice safe-sex behaviors so you can avoid getting
STDs.
There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learn all that you can
about maintaining good health.
If you choose to have sex, use a latex condom to help protect your
partner from HIV and other STDs. Studies have shown that latex
condoms are very effective, though not 100%, in preventing HIV
transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner
is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the
male or female can be used
| Content Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention |
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