Is there an advantage to being diagnosed HIV+ as early as possible? Do doctors give anti-viral medication to HIV+ people before they develop the symptoms of AIDS, and is the longevity of the patient increased the earlier he/she takes these anti-viral drugs?

There is definitely an advantage in finding out a person's serostatus before AIDS symptoms show. Existing anti-viral medication is capable of extending qualitiy of life even to the extent of transforming HIV into a chronic disease.

HIV has been described as a train on a rail way. The train is HIV, the railway is your immune system. The fatser the train goes (that is, without meds), the faster it gets to its destination (AIDS). Antiviral medication acts as a slowdown of such a train, slowing disease progression. It is true. The train will eventually get there, but it does not have to be the 8-10 years expected for people with no meds.

Some people have 15-20 years living with HIV and they are healthy. It is true that some people will not react favorably to meds, but most people do benefit at least some from medication.

However, the decision to start antiviral meds, must be carefully recommended by a knowledgeable doctor and backed by tests indicayting the viral and immune levels. HIV is a rapidly mutating virus, therefore starting medication too soon may lead to virus resistance, and actually faster progression to AIDS.

There is also the big issue of finding out if a person is HIV+: Taking the necessary precautions so as not to unkowingly spread the virus to others.

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Best wishes.