Question
I am worried to be 60 and just diagnosed with a CD4 of 160?
9 January 2026. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Sexual health, Starting treatment.
Hi I have a cd4 of 160 and 16 percent – I started Art treatment 7 days ago and my viral load is 400000, I’m 60 what are the chances of me being treated as I also have been told I have syphillis, I’m terrified
Answer
Hi there
Please take time to slow down a little because everything is going to be okay :)
Finding out you are positive can still be very scary if you weren’t expecting this news.
As you find out more information, it will get much easier though. Treatment is now very effective and easy to take and will stop HIV becoming a problem. Treatment also means you are still as likely to live as you would have without HIV.
You also still have a good CD4 count and CD4%.
Now that you are on treatment your CD4 counts are likely to steadily get stronger again, year after year. This might increase by 100 or months within the first 6-12 months although everyone is different.
It sounds like you are getting very good care by also having your sexual health checked too.
Syphilis is easy and quick to treat.
This link might help with first information:
>> Just found out…
With other links here:
>> More links if just diagnosed…
Please let us know if you have other questions
Hello Jo and thanks for getting in touch.
Being diagnosed with a CD4 count under 200 puts you at risk of a number of infections, that is true.
It is also true that the best thing you can do is to start ARV treatment as soon as possible as this will help your immune system to recover.
CD4 cells are immune cells that help to fight infections.
That is why we encourage everyone to start treatment as soon as possible – it protects their immune system.
Everyone recovers in their own time and we don’t know exactly what are the reasons for this. Age might be one reason.
However, people living with HIV who have realised later in life are responding equally well to ARVs as younger people and their immune system is recovering in its’ own time.
The best thing you can do is take these injections and start your ARV treatment.
That will keep you healthy and safe.
That will ensure you can have a full and active life.
Thank you, I have been reading online that people of a certain age, starting late treatment with CD4 count under 200 are at increased risk of dying – and the CD4 is harder to recover into the normal range over 400. Is this true? Is the latent syphilis be one of the cause of my low CD4 and by how much? I am starting penicillin vaccine x3 next week for the latent syphilis- I am terrified