Department for Work and Pensions

home

Tools menu

  • Website survey (Opens in new window.)

Site search

Search this website

Site navigation

Publications

Home \ Publications \ Specialist guides and publications \ Medical conditions \ A-Z of medical conditions \ HIV / AIDS \ Care and mobility considerations

Section menu

Browse by role

Care and mobility considerations

Mobility and care needs may arise from any of the conditions associated with HIV.

It should be noted that, although the CD4 count is an important indicator of a person’s wellbeing, all factors should be taken into account. For example, people on treatment may have a CD4 count >350/µl but may be significantly debilitated due to either severe side effects of treatment or HIV associated conditions.

Mild Functional Restriction

Category Description
Disabling Effects

People with a mild restriction are likely to have:

  • CD4 count >350/µl. They are likely to be asymptomatic although they may have enlarged lymph glands.

or

  • CD4 count >200/µl with relatively non disabling problems such as:
    • Sexually transmitted diseases
    • Mouth conditions
    • Skin conditions
    • Minor side effects of medication
Mobility The ability to walk is unlikely to be impeded and they would normally be able to find their way around in unfamiliar places.
Care The resulting disability is unlikely to affect their ability to independently carry out activities of daily living.

Moderate Functional Restriction

Category Description
Disabling Effects

People with a moderate restriction are likely to have a CD4 count >100 and < 200 /µl. The resulting disability depends upon the condition present and the response to treatment.

For example, the following conditions may have varying effects on mobility and the ability to carry out activities of daily living:

  • Respiratory e.g. pneumonia or tumour
  • Neurological e.g. neuropathy
  • Tumours e.g. advanced visceral Kaposi’s sarcoma
  • Constitutional symptoms
  • Gastrointestinal e.g. diarrhoea
  • Haematological problems e.g. anaemia
  • Psychiatric or social disabilities resulting from HIV or its treatment

Each case will therefore need to be assessed individually.
Mobility The ability to walk may be impeded and they may not be able to find their way around in unfamiliar places, but this depends upon the associated condition and response to treatment.
Care The resulting disability may affect their ability to independently carry out activities of daily living, but this depends upon the associated condition and response to treatment.

Severe Functional Restriction

Category Description
Disabling Effects

People with a severe restriction are likely to have a CD4 count < 100 /µl associated with:

  • Advanced carcinoma
  • HIV encephalopathy
  • Primary cerebral lymphoma
  • Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML)
  • Systemic non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL)
  • Visual impairment due to Cytomegalovirus retinitis
  • Uncontrollable diarrhoea
  • Psychiatric or social disability resulting from HIV or its treatment
Mobility The ability to walk is likely be impeded and they may not be able to find their way around in unfamiliar places.
Care The resulting disability is likely to affect their ability to independently carry out activities of daily living.

Website information