Managing HIV. Part 2: Phases of disease. 2.2 Early HIV-induced immune deficiency

From the resolution of primary infection until the CD4 cell count falls below 500/microL, people with HIV are usually functioning at their normal capacity physically, mentally and socially. However, HIV is replicating actively within lymph nodes during this period of early immune deficiency. It is important to determine the rate of immune depletion and to assess what factors, if any, may be hastening that progression.