Question
Why does my CD4 count drops?
24 February 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Why does CD4 count drops?
Answer
There are many reasons why your CD4 count can drop.
If you have any kind of infection such as cold, flu or fever then it can cause your CD4 to drop.
If someone is infected by immune deficiency illness such as cancer or HIV, this can also reduces their CD4 count. If not treated, their CD4 count can drop to a very low level and they can develop other opportunistic illnesses (OIs).
HIV medication works by stopping the virus from replicating itself and therefore preventing the virus from further damaging the immune system. When your viral load has been reduce to undetectable level (less than 50 copies) then your CD4 count will go up, but not to the level before infection.
For more information on the same subject, please look at the link below.
what does a faint line on a western blot test mean?
Hi Lizeka,
When someone has a CD4 of 160 it could be due to HIV. To know for sure you will need to talk to your father.
WANT TO KNOW SAW MY FATHERS CLINIC CARD WRITTEN 160 CD4 COUNT IS HE HIV POSITIVE I WANT TO HELP HIM
Hi Smaxs,
Can I just confirm, have you tested positive 9 times and negative once?
If this is the case, then it really does sound like your are positive. If this is the case then what the healthcare workers are telling you is right. This is because everyone who is positive is recommended to start meds.
There’s more about this here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
Have you had your viral load measured and your CD4 count?
I was tested 10 times using determine and first response but determine result was always positive while the final result of first response was always negative! Please help me on what to do because am weak,pale and having,Hb of 3.6g/dl and am forced by the healthcare workes to take ARVs?Help me!
Hi Ken,
Being diagnosed with HIV can be difficult to come to terms with. It will though get better. What you need to do first is give yourself some time. Slow down and breath. Is there anyone you can talk to?
When you say that you had symptoms 3 weeks ago, does this mean that you’ve been at risk within the last month or so? Also what symptoms did you have?
Regardless of what your CD4 count is, its important that you start ARVs as soon as possible. When will you find out what your CD4 is? Has mediation been discussed with you?
With regards to not wanting to tell your family, this is a common reaction when a person is newly diagnosed. If yuo don’t want to, then you don’t have to. If and when you’re ready then you can.
What’s important to know is that HIV is now a very manageable health condition. And that treatment is excellent.
I had symptoms about 3 weeks ago. And I got tested yesterday and it appears that I’m positive. I’m not on medication yet. Will my CD4 go low fast? I’m 20, is it possible to live a long time without telling my family?
Hi Thulisile.
The only thing that can help your HIV is ART. It is the taking of ART that will help you to become undetectable.
Its normal not to want to feel dependent on one thing, but its what we have and it works.
For more on ART please see the following:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
Hi
I’ve just been diagnosed and started my treatment how can I achieve a undetectable viral load besides taking treatment. I just want to leave a positive life but not only dependent on ART drugs
Hi Nompumelelo,
Telling someone that you love and care about can be difficult. More so if you do not know how their reaction will be. Have you brought up the subject of HIV in conversation? If yes, what was their reaction? Also, are you aware of their status?
As you are having unprotected sex, are you on medication? If you are and you have an undetectable viral load, you could try telling them about the PARTNER study. Please see here for more information:
http://i-base.info/htb/30108
Good luck with telling them.