Could You Have HIV—and Not Know It?

Could You Have HIVâ€"and Not Know It?

Just because you don’t have symptoms, doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Turns out, the younger you are, the less likely you are to know your HIV status, finds a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Researchers analyzed data from the 2009 National HIV Surveillance System and found that people under the age of 45 were less aware of their infection than older adults. And only about 40 percent of 13- to 24-year-olds with HIV had actually received a diagnosis.

The researchers hypothesize that younger people get screened for the disease less often, and even if they test positive, they may be less adamant about sticking to their treatment if they feel healthy.

While the number of new HIV infections in the U.S. has shrunk to around 50,000 a year—get the full stats in our recent report, AIDS in 2013: Where Are We Now?—it doesn’t mean the disease is dead. To make sure you’re in the clear, see your doc and ask to get checked, recommends Jonathan Mermin, M.D., Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To scope out where the convenient HIV testing spots are in your town, check out the CDC’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Service Provider Locator and simply type in your ZIP code. Click here to see other testing options.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

• How Dangerous is HIV Today?
• The Deadliest STD in the U.S.
• How to Save the U.S. Male

Powered by WPeMatico