title: Does "asymptomatic" mean without symptoms for those living with HIV infection?
abstract: Throughout the history of the HIV epidemic, HIV-positive patients with relatively high CD4 counts and no clinical features of opportunistic infections have been classified as "asymptomatic" by definition and treatment guidelines. This classification, however, does not take into consideration the array of symptoms that an HIV-positive person can experience long before progressing to AIDS. This short report describes two international multi-site studies conducted in 2003-2005 and 2005-2007. The results from the studies show that HIV-positive people may experience symptoms throughout the trajectory of their disease, regardless of CD4 count or classification. Providers should discuss symptoms and symptom management with their clients at all stages of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willard
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Holzemer
authors.forename: Dean J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wantland
authors.forename: Yvette P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Cuca
authors.forename: Kenn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kirksey
authors.forename: Carmen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.forename: Inge B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Corless
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivero-Méndez
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Patrice K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sefcik
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canaval
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moezzi
authors.forename: Sarie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Human
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arudo
authors.forename: Lucille Sanzero
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bunch
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dole
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Yun-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maryland
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindgren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult