For people who are positive

A reactive screening result is followed by a confirmatory test. Do not draw a final diagnosis from a single rapid test: talk to the professional who did the test about the next step. Take the result with you, and write down your questions. How the result is confirmed depends on the test done and the clinical situation.

Yes. HIV today is a long-term condition that can be treated effectively. With treatment started early and followed regularly, a long, active life is possible. A diagnosis does not automatically mean AIDS will develop. The task now is to put together a personalised treatment and a check-up plan you can follow.

Write down what is on your mind most: what the result means, treatment, your relationship or everyday life. It helps to have your results and a list of the medicines you take now and have taken before to hand. You do not have to solve every question at once; what needs doing can be broken down into steps.

HIV is a virus; AIDS is the advanced stage of untreated HIV infection, in which the immune system is severely damaged. A positive HIV result does not in itself mean AIDS. The very aim of treatment is to protect the immune system and stop the illness from progressing.

Yes. The infection can be present for a long time without noticeable symptoms. Flu-like symptoms in the early period can also come with other illnesses. You cannot tell your HIV status or how well treatment is working from how you feel: that needs the right test and a medical assessment.

ART is medication that stops HIV from multiplying. Its aim is to keep the viral load down over the long term and to protect the immune system. You need to take the medicine as prescribed even when you feel well. Feeling well, or having an undetectable viral load, is no reason to stop treatment.

Viral load tells you how much virus can be measured in the blood; the CD4 count tells you about an important group of immune cells. The two answer different questions; your doctor assesses them together with your earlier results and your general health. How often you need check-ups also depends on the stage of treatment and your results.

Tell your doctor what you are experiencing, when it started and which medicines you take. Many symptoms can be treated, and treatment can be changed if needed. Do not lower the dose or stop treatment on your own. If you feel seriously unwell or have difficulty breathing, you need medical help immediately.

Check any new product with a doctor or pharmacist first. Over-the-counter medicines, herbal remedies and supplements can also interact with HIV medicines. A complete list of your medicines helps make sure they do not weaken each other’s effects, and that unwanted side effects can be avoided.

Choose a reminder that fits your daily routine, and make sure you have your next supply of medicine in good time. If you miss doses because of work, travel or emotional difficulties, talk to your care team about it. If you miss a dose, follow the instructions for that particular medicine, and ask if you are unsure.

If HIV infection is confirmed, starting treatment as soon as possible is recommended. There is no need to wait for symptoms or for the immune system to weaken. Your doctor decides the exact timing and the right combination of medicines based on your results and any other conditions.

The choice is personal: other conditions, previous treatments, possible interactions and your daily routine all count. Tell your doctor if a regimen would be hard for you to stick to. The treatment that works best is one you understand and that fits your life.

An undetectable viral load is a very good treatment result, but it does not mean HIV has completely gone from the body. You still need to take your medicines as prescribed. Ongoing treatment and regular check-ups together help keep the result lasting.

The virus can develop changes that make one or more medicines less effective against it. This does not mean your body has “got used to” the tablets. Taking your medicines exactly as prescribed lowers the chance of resistance; if needed, a test helps choose an effective treatment.

Do not draw a final conclusion from a single result. Your doctor also reviews your earlier results, whether you have taken your medicines without breaks, and possible interactions. A repeat measurement may be needed, and further tests if the rise persists. In the meantime, do not change your medicines on your own.

Care looks after the whole body. Because of other conditions and the medicines used, it may also be necessary to monitor kidney function, metabolism or the health of other organs. The test plan is put together based on your age, your history and your treatment.

U=U means: undetectable = untransmittable through sex. Someone who reaches and keeps a lasting undetectable viral load on effective treatment does not pass HIV on through sex. Regular laboratory checks are needed to confirm this. It does not mean a cure, and it should not automatically be applied to other routes of transmission.

Yes. HIV treatment does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections. Condoms and screening agreed with you individually can still be important. If your viral load is not known or not undetectable, talk about protecting your partner separately; PrEP is one possible way to prevent infection.

Choose a calm moment for the conversation, and leave room for questions. It can help to gather in advance what you would like to say about treatment and prevention. If it is hard to begin, ask a professional for support. You do not have to find every answer on your own.

HIV does not spread through hugging, shaking hands or everyday contact. People who live together do not need to avoid closeness. For HIV to pass on, certain body fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane, damaged tissue or the bloodstream; simply sharing a space is not such a situation.

U=U is a message about sexual transmission. It should not be taken to mean, for example, that sharing injecting equipment or breastfeeding is safe. These need their own prevention measures. Pregnancy and feeding a baby need a medical plan agreed in advance.

A varied, balanced diet supports your general health and helps you keep a healthy weight. No diet or supplement can replace HIV treatment. Ask for help if you lose your appetite, have ongoing diarrhoea or lose weight without meaning to. Follow any instructions about taking your medicines with or without food.

Fear, uncertainty or anger can be understandable reactions. Support from someone you trust, a peer community or a psychologist can help. If difficult feelings keep affecting your sleep, your work or taking your medicines, tell your care team. Emotional support is an important part of care.

Alongside HIV check-ups, screening tailored to your age and personal risks, and a review of your vaccinations, are also important. Regular exercise and stopping smoking also support your health. It is worth putting together a vaccination and screening plan with your doctor.

Plan your medicine supply, any time-zone changes and the vaccinations you need in good time. Check the health and entry requirements of your destination, and what your travel insurance covers. Preparing helps keep your treatment uninterrupted while you travel.

There is no special diet that applies to everyone. The basics are variety, enough nutrients and an energy intake suited to your needs. If eating is made harder by symptoms, other conditions or changes in weight, a dietitian can help you find a personalised solution you can stick to.

Wash your hands and clean the surfaces you use for preparing food. Keep raw ingredients separate from ready-to-eat food, cook meat and eggs thoroughly, and put perishable food in the fridge in good time. Raw or undercooked food and unpasteurised products can carry a higher risk of infection.

Supplements do not replace antiretroviral treatment. Supplementation may be needed for individual needs or a confirmed deficiency. A high dose is not necessarily better: it can cause side effects and drug interactions. Show the name and dose of the product to your doctor or pharmacist.

Yes. Being labelled “natural” does not automatically make a product safe. Herbal remedies and products containing minerals can also change how some HIV medicines work or are absorbed. Check before starting a new product, and do not decide on timing based on general advice from the internet.

Regular exercise is a valuable part of staying healthy for people living with HIV too. Choose activities you enjoy that suit your fitness, and build up gradually. If you are starting sport after a long break, or you have symptoms or other conditions, talk your plan through with a professional.

Exercise supports stamina, muscle strength and a healthy weight, and it can also lift your mood. It is not only gym training that counts: walking and everyday activity are a good place to start too. A routine you can keep up over the long term matters more than a sudden heavy workload.

You do not have to wait until things become unbearable. It is worth asking for help if you have lasting anxiety, low mood, are withdrawing from others, or have worries that make everyday life hard. Mental health problems can be treated; support can also be good for your relationships and for keeping up with treatment.

Some medicines can affect sleep or mood, but there may be another cause. Note down when the change started, and talk it through with your doctor. Do not stop treatment on your own: once the cause is clear, the right solution can be chosen.

A trusted relationship, a peer community or a supportive conversation can reduce isolation. You can start with just one person you trust. Rest, exercise and small, achievable daily goals can also support your wellbeing; if difficulties last, ask for professional help too.

Alongside HIV treatment, it becomes more and more important to coordinate the follow-up of other health conditions, such as heart and circulatory, kidney and metabolic disease. Interactions between different medicines also need to be reviewed. Take an up-to-date list of everything you take to your check-ups.