Question:

Hello, I hope all is well with you. I was writing because a close family member of mine was diagonsed with HIV about 3 years ago. Now the doctors say that he has advanced HIV. Can you please just be honest with me and tell me if "Advanced HIV" is just a fancy way of saying AIDS? Also, if you know if any herbal remedies by any chance would you please include it in your reply?

Answer provided by:

Octavio Vallejo, M.D., MPH
Faculty, UCLA Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center

From the moment a person gets exposed to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) we call that HIV infection. That means that the body of this person is having a constant battle against HIV. A person without HIV may have between 800-1600 CD4 cells per mm3 of blood. These cells are the ones that HIV invades and destroys. When a person reach less than 200 CD4 cells per mm3 we said that the persons has AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). So, in short advanced HIV infection can imply AIDS or that the person already needs medication to help the body to fight back and somehow control the virus. The current recommedations about when to initiate antiretroviral therapy (medications against HIV) establish that a person needs to start anti-HIV treatment when they reach less than 350 CD4 cell per mm3 of blood and the amount of virus in the blood in above 100,000 copies per ml.

My only recommendation for your relative is that he needs to see a good doctor specialized on HIV and to start anti-HIV meds as soon as possible. Also, to start taking care her/himself in a very comprehensive manner (good nutrition, exercise, zero stress and no depression).

I hope this helps.

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