There are many things you can do to help protect your health if you test positive for HIV. Seeking health care early and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help a person stay healthy. Some specific things you can do if you're positive for HIV are: See a doctor, even if you feel well. If possible, see a doctor who is familiar with treating people with HIV. Health care providers can inform you on what tests and drug treatment are right for you.

If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learn all that you can about maintaining good health.

You will be assured privacy and support to receive the result and counseled on the accuracy, medical and legal significance of an HIV diagnosis. there is now highly effective treatment for HIV, much of the counseling is usually focused on helping the positive person take the next necessary steps to receive follow up medical care and social support for treatment and healthy living with HIV. Referrals to Care Coordination Services, RAIN and other supportive services are offered.

HIV test is most accurate if done three months after your most recent risk occurrence such as unprotected sex, sharing needles etc. You do not need to do an HIV test on a regular basis unless you feel you have been at risk for the virus.

HIV test is required for some studies. You will be informed in the screening process as to whether or not you will need to be tested for HIV, and our doctor will counsel you about AIDS, HIV and issues relating to the test. You will be told the result in a confidential manner.

First thing: Don't panic! In the United States, living with HIV is no longer an automatic death sentence. Many people are alive and well who were diagnosed many years ago. Although HIV can be life threatening, and you will have to monitor your physical health and have regular medical tests, there are many things you can do to maintain a normal life. It's important to learn all you can about HIV in order to keep yourself healthy.

If you live in Bermuda you should contact your personal Health Care Provider or the Bermuda Department of Health at 236-0224. Click Here for more information. In addition The Allan Vincent Smith Foundation can help provide you with the referrals and support you need. You should also consider the following guidelines:

Occasionally, a person will get a positive (+) blood test to a disease which he or she does not have. Science has a name for this--"biological false positive". This is why it is so important that a positive (+) HIV test be followed by more HIV tests by a doctor to confirm whether the person is infected or not.

It is of the utmost importance to your life that you seek out a doctor qualified to treat this disease. Your doctor will guide you to counseling, support groups and assistance services specifically for people that are HIV positive. You should also discuss the necessary changes to your life-style so as to not further endanger yourself and others. Your life is not over. You can live a longer, more fruitful life if you seek and receive treatment early in the disease process.

The first documented cases of AIDS was on the 5th of June 1981, in the USA, and five people were affected with the disease. However there were reported (but not documented) cases of occurrence of HIV in 1959, But not much information was gathered on the later event. REF: FIRST OUTBREAK OF AIDS

Approximately one-quarter to one-third of all untreated pregnant women infected with HIV will pass the infection to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth. But this risk is significantly reduced if the mother is treated with AZT (during pregnancy, labor, and delivery) and her baby receives AZT during the first six weeks of life.

For more information, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). This service is available in English or en español. For TYY service, please call 1-888-232-6348. These services are open 24 hours, 7 days a week and can offer general information to help you discuss HIV treatments as well as other treatments with your doctor.

Even if you look and feel healthy, people who have HIV can spread the virus to others through sharing needles and syringes or having sex without a latex barrier.