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American Morning

Early AIDS Diagnosis Gives Better Chances for Treatment

Aired August 16, 2001 - 11:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to transit now to a serious health story. As many people infected with the virus that causes AIDS apparently are missing out on some important treatments, and that's because they're not getting AIDS testing soon enough.

That word from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have a doctor from the CDC join us now, Dr. Helene Gayle, an expert on AIDS and HIV.

Dr. Gayle, good to have you with us.

HELENE GAYLE, CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: Hi, good to be here.

KAGAN: This report saying that some people getting diagnosed as late as 10 years after they're actually infected. Why the gap, do you think?

GAYLE: Well, I think because many people still think about HIV as a death sentence, and don't know all of the benefits that they can get as a result of being diagnosed early, getting into treatment and also getting into support for prevention services as well. So we want to get the word out there, that it is important today, more than ever, because of all of the new therapies, all that we know about prevention -- that it really is important for a person to get tested and take advantage of those benefits.

KAGAN: No one wants to get the word that they're HIV positive, so if they just avoid the test they think they're avoiding that kind of bad news. But what are the ramifications, in terms of trying to save your life, of that delayed diagnoses?

GAYLE: Well, there are several ramifications, because people who are -- get into care early have much better quality of life, as well as it probably lengthens their life as well. And that's care -- not only the antiretroviral therapies, but the whole range of services that can be provided for somebody with HIV. But it's also important from a prevention standpoint.

KAGAN: That's true.

GAYLE: We know that people who are tested are more likely to reduce behaviors that would continue that transmission. And so from that standpoint, too, we have people who, for 10 years, may very well continue to engage in behaviors that will continue the transmission. So from the standpoint of prevention, but also from the standpoint of that individual and their care needs, it is so important that people do get tested. We also know that stigma keeps some people away.

KAGAN: Sure.

GAYLE: We are still not dealing with this issue in a straightforward way. So many people avoid it because of their sense of the disease, but also because of what they think people will think about them once they are diagnosed with HIV.

KAGAN: So is HIV testing something that all of us should make as part of our regular checkup?

GAYLE: Well, we really are recommending that HIV testing become much more a routine part of medical care. There are so many missed opportunities. And so we think that people should, and doctors and health care providers should look at this as a much more routine part of clinical care.

KAGAN: Be a little bit more aggressive, doctors should, perhaps, about suggesting the testing?

GAYLE: Yes, definitely. Definitely. And particularly for patients who have other STDs, for instance, that...

KAGAN: Are the red flags?

GAYLE: Right. Exactly.

KAGAN: Very good. Dr. Helene Gayle from the CDC, thanks for stopping by. Appreciate it.

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