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Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you think you might have HIV infection, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. You may be referred to an infectious disease specialist.

What you can do
Before your appointment, you might want to write a list answering the following questions:

  • How do you believe you might have been exposed to HIV?
  • What types of symptoms do you have?
  • Do you have any risk factors, such as participating in unprotected anal sex or using intravenous drugs?
  • What types of prescription drugs or supplements do you take?

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will ask you questions about your health and lifestyle. He or she will also conduct a thorough physical exam, checking you for:

  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Lesions on your skin or in your mouth
  • Neurological problems
  • Abnormal sounds in your lungs
  • Enlarged organs in your abdomen

What you can do in the meantime
If you think you might have HIV infection, there are some precautions you can take to protect yourself and others before your appointment.

  • Have only protected sexual intercourse.
  • Inject drugs with a clean needle only, and don't share it with others.
Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. Basic information about HIV and AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm. Accessed May 11, 2011.
  2. HIV and its treatment. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/HIVandItsTreatment_cbrochure_en.pdf. Accessed May 10, 2012.
  3. Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Professional Edition. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202273019-4/0/2060/57.html?tocnode=57529567&fromURL=57.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0792-2..50011-0--cesec96_437. Accessed May 10, 2012.
  4. Quinn TC. The global human immunodeficiency virus pandemic. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 10, 2012.
  5. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00017-3--sc0185&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&sid=1308572619&uniqId=334301681-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00017-3--sc0185. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  6. Bartlett JG. The stages and natural history of HIV infection. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 10, 2012.
  7. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00010-0--sc0075&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&sid=1308590901&uniqId=334307705-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00010-0--sc0075. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  8. Living with HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/livingwithhiv.htm. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  9. Neurological complications of AIDS fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/aids/detail_aids.htm. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  10. Bartlett JG. When to initiate antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 10, 2012.
  11. Side effects of anti-HIV medications: Health information for patients. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/SideEffectAnitHIVMeds_cbrochure_en.pdf. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  12. Eating defensively: Food safety advice for persons with AIDS. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm135844.htm. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  13. Natural medicines in the clinical management of HIV/AIDS. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  14. HIV/AIDS programs: Find HIV/AIDS care. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://hab.hrsa.gov/gethelp/index.html. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  15. Fourth generation HIV diagnostic test approved, permitting earlier detection of infection. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForPatientAdvocates/HIVandAIDSActivities/ucm216409.htm. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  16. FDA approves first-of-its-kind HIV test which can detect HIV days earlier than current U.S. tests. Abbott Laboratories. http://www.abbott.com/news-media/press-releases/Press_Release_0875.htm. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  17. Smith K, et al. HIV-1 treatment as prevention: The good, the bad and the challenges. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2011;6:315.
  18. Sax PE. Primary HIV-1 infection: Pathogenesis; epidemiology and clinical manifestations. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  19. Stages of HIV. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/hiv-in-your-body/stages-of-hiv/. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  20. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9123335&searchStr=hiv#9123335. Accessed May 11, 2012.
  21. Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in HIV-1-infected adults and adolescents. AIDSinfo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/html/1/adult-and-adolescent-treatment-guidelines/0/. Accessed May 10, 2012.
  22. Daar ES, et al. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of primary HIV-1 infection. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2008;3:110.
  23. 23. Wyatt CM, et al. Recent progress in HIV-associated nephropathy. Annual Review of Medicine. 2012;63:147.
  24. Lerma EV, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Nephrology & Hypertension. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6337038&searchStr=aids-associated+nephropathy#6337039. Accessed May 29, 2012.
  25. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9130713&searchStr=aids-associated+nephropathy#9130713. Accessed May 29, 2012.
  26. Rizza SA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 24, 2012.
  27. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9123385&searchStr=male+circumcision#9123385. Accessed May29, 2012.
  28. FDA approves first medication to reduce HIV risk. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm311821.htm. Accessed July 16, 2012.
DS00005 Aug. 11, 2012

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