AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, develops in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. HIV infects the immune system, leading to a decrease in the body's ability to fight infectious disease and cancers. A diagnosis of AIDS requires specific criteria, so simply being diagnosed with HIV does not mean that the person has AIDS. After an AIDS diagnosis, a doctor can help determine the appropriate course of medical treatment for a given individual.
Immune Cell Count
According to the University of California San Francisco, one criteria for diagnosing AIDS is that the immune cells called CD4+ T cells must drop below a specific level. A doctor will look at two aspects of these levels when diagnosing AIDS. The first is if the CD4+ T cells fall below 200 cells per cubic milliliter of blood. In comparison, a normal person has about 1,000 of these cells per cubic milliliter. The second consideration is how many CD4+ T cells there are in comparison to other blood cells. For an AIDS diagnosis, these cells must make up less than 14 percent of all lymphocytes.
Presence of Other Illnesses
In addition to the CD4+ T cell count, other secondary infections or diseases that are present can also be used to give a diagnosis of AIDS. Someone who has developed opportunistic infections can be diagnosed with AIDS even if his CD4+ T cell count has not dropped below 200. Some illnesses that are considered indicators of AIDS include Kaposi sarcoma, mycobacteria infections, recurrent pneumonia and wasting disease.
Diagnostic Tests
Blood and saliva tests can detect the presence of antibodies against HIV, and viral load tests on a blood sample can detect the virus itself. The presence of HIV in the body is a necessary condition for an AIDS diagnosis, but because other criteria must be met to diagnose AIDS, these tests alone are not definitive. Those who are HIV positive should have their CD4+ T cell levels tested every three to six months. Tests are also available to look for opportunistic infections and to determine whether the individual's specific strain of HIV is resistant to any of the drugs commonly used to treat it.
Progression from HIV
According to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the progression of HIV to AIDS varies between individuals. For most individuals, the initial infection spreads to the point of detectability within three to six months after exposure. Ten years or more can go by before the person starts to exhibit symptoms of the infection, and the first symptoms tend to be mild. About half of those infected with HIV receive a diagnosis of AIDS within 10 years of exposure, while 75 percent of infected individuals develop the disease within 15 years.
Living With AIDS
Living with an AIDS diagnosis involves careful management of diet and lifestyle along with taking medication to slow the progression of the disease. Dietary considerations for individuals with AIDS can mean scheduling meals so that the patient doesn't forget to eat due to a loss of appetite, or completely avoiding foods that carry a risk of food-borne illness. The patient may also need to make lifestyle changes such as starting a regular exercise program and making efforts to reduce stress. Antiretroviral drugs are the main treatment for AIDS, but many patients need to try a few different drugs or drug combinations before finding one that works. Patients may also need treatment for any secondary infections or illnesses they acquire.
