hey Dr.Mark Thank you for all the work your team does to help PLWHAS. i recently learn't of my status and i already went for the comprehensive test for cd4 and the rest my health provider family care in Kenya,kisumu did not discuss much with me only that my cd4 count was 629 and when i inquired more on what to do in order to improve all i was told is to continue with what i have been doing and this is very frustrating considering i just learnt of this illness. my question is a cd4 count of 629 is normal or below standards? another thing is the swollen lymph nodes behind my ears will they ever go away? is there a way to treat the condition? should i just get used to them?....Doc am really worried and suffering in silence though i am taking the septrins and multi vitamins diligently as advised everyday i would really appreciate any information that would assist me as i start living positively. am very happy to have found this website i hope your online services are not within a specified geographical area. Dr.Mark am 24f weighing 50kg's and looking to gain more healthy weight, thanks doc, i hope to hear from you soon. Kind Regards Distraught Mother.

The normal CD4 count range for those people not infected with HIV is 500-1500. So a CD4 count of 629 would be in the normal range. That's the good news. In the U.S., we usually check a viral load level (amount of HIV in the blood) to determine whether HIV treatment would be indicated or not in someone with a normal CD4 count. For instance, if the viral load is > 100,000 we would start treatment regardless of the CD4 count. If that was not done, they may be relying on just the CD4 count and likely given that it is in the normal range would have you defer HIV treatment for now. I am not clear as to the need of the Septrin. We usually would only give that medication when the CD4 count is very low (<200) in order to protect people from getting other kinds of infections.