Researchers at the 4th annual International AIDS Society meeting have been discussing plans for a new study that will determine if early treatment — starting patients on antiretrovirals when their CD4 counts hit the 500 level, as opposed to waiting for the current warning level of 200 or lower — might help HIV positive patients lower their risk of developing diseases that aren’t typically associated with HIV. Recent studies have supported earlier treatment by showing that even in the so-called “latency” period soon after a person is diagnosed with HIV, they might be at an increased risk for various “non-AIDS related” illnesses.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
