CD4 count and risk of becoming ill

Your CD4 count is the most important test for deciding your risk of becoming ill. How fast it is changing is also used to decide when to start treatment.

While your CD4 count is above 300, you still have a good immune system. Below 300, you are at a higher risk of infections that cause diarrhoea and weight loss.
If your CD4 count falls below 200, your risk of developing a pneumonia called PCP increases. Below 100, your risk of serious illnesses increases even further.
A low CD4 count does not mean that you will definitely become ill. It is just much more likely. Most drugs used to treat these HIV-related illnesses are much more difficult to take than anti-HIV drugs.

Although you may be worried about using treatments, HIV and AIDS is still a very real and life-threatening illness. You can delay treatment until it is too late! Illnesses that can occur at any time when your CD4 count is below 200 can be fatal.

How are viral load results used?

Although viral load results can also be used to decide when to start treatment they are more important after you start treatment.

When viral load falls it shows the drugs are starting to work.
Once viral load is undetectable, it shows the drugs continue to work. If it goes up it shows the drugs may not be working.

This is the web edition of the i-Base guide Introduction to combination therapy. This guide is available in UK clinics. You can order free printed copies or download a PDF version (516 Kb). Translations. Authors and credits. Glossary. Full section index.

Decisions relating to your treatment should always be taken in consultation with your doctor. Information in this guide is intended to support those discussions.