WHAT ARE ANTI-RETROVIRALS (ARVS)?
HIV mainly infects cells in the immune system called CD4 cells ( see below for explanation of CD4) . Over many years of HIV infection, the number of CD4 cells drops and the immune system is weakened. If nothing is done to slow or halt this destructing of the immune system, a condition called AIDS follows. ARVs are used to slow the reproduction of the virus, thus slowing the progression of HIV disease to AIDS.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ARVs AND CAN THEY CURE HIV/AIDS?
While ARVs do not cure HIV, they can reduce the virus in the body to a large degree. That gives the immune system a chance to recover and to start fighting opportunistic infections again. Also direct effects the virus has on the body, like the wasting syndrome, improves. It is often amazing to see how much weight and strength people that start ARVs regain in a short period of time. Even people that have been so sick that they couldn't care for themselves anymore often get healthy and strong again and go back to work.
WHAT ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?
Generally speaking, a strong medicine that is supposed to fight a serious disease is more likely to have more serious side effects than a medicine that is not so strong. ARVs are strong drugs and therefore can produce side effects. This is not always the case. Because of the benefits of ARVs the majority of people taking them feel a lot healthier and stronger even if they experience side effects at times.
Most of the side effects people experience, like nausea, are unpleasant but not dangerous. If a person experiences certain side effects once, it doesn't mean that he/she will have them always. It is often the case that if specific drugs are taken permanently, like ARVs, the body gets used to them and the side effects lessen.
In some cases a person may incur serious side effects from certain ARVs like an impaired liver function. The doctor will then decide to allow the client to go on taking this drug and treat the side effects or advise the client to change to a different ARV drug combination instead.
Generally, side effects are quite common with ARVs and the majority of side effects can be handled well when the doctor and patient work together. Severe life threatening side effects may occur but they are seldom.
HOW DOES THE CD4 COUNT AND VIRAL LOAD TESTS FIT IN?
Both the Viral Load test and the CD4 test will be done before you start treatment. Other test may also be taken.
Getting a Viral Load test before starting HIV treatment is important for two reasons.
- It shows how well the body's immune system is controlling the virus
- It provides a baseline measurement for viral load
After you start treatment, your viral load will be compared to the baseline. This will help your doctor see how well the drugs are working.
Due to the high cost of the Viral Load test in the public health sector, it is performed only after being on ARVs for 6 months.
Getting a CD4 cell count test before starting the treatment is important for two reasons:
- It shows how well your immune system is working
- It provides a baseline measurement of your CD4 cell count
After you start treatment, your CD4 count will be compared to the baseline. This will help your doctor see how well the drugs are working. CD4 counts are performed once or twice a year to check progress.
WHAT IS THE CD 4 COUNT?
CD4 cells are white blood cells (also called T-helper cells) which are the backbone of your immune system and fight infections. The CD4 count is a measurement of the number of CD4 cells in a cubic millimeter of blood. A healthy, uninfected person has a CD4 count ranging between 500 cells/mm³ and 1200 cells/mm³. Receiving a positive HIV test result means that you have been infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV progresses to AIDS when your CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm ³ , and /or you develop an AIDS defining condition. A person is said to have full-blown Aids when their CD4 count drops below 50 cells/mm³.
WHEN CAN I START ARVs?
At present government clinics, day hospitals and hospitals will only administer ARVs when the CD4 count is lower than 200 cells/mm ³. You should talk to your doctor about the benefits of starting therapy earlier.
WHAT IS VIRAL LOAD?
The amount of HIV in a sample of blood. A viral load of 5-10 000 usually indicates you are HIV positive. however, a viral load can be undetectable This does not mean that there is no virus in your blood, but rather that the test cannot detect it. For most people who start ARV therapy, their viral load drops to an undetectable level (below 50 copies/mL) within 16-20 weeks. However, ARV treatment is complicated and different people have different results. A high viral load is associated with more rapid decline in the CD4 count.
WHERE CAN I GET FREE TREATMENT?
At present there are approximately 20 clinics, day hospitals and hospitals in the Western Cape offering free treatment.
****Please search the database under ANTI-RETROVIRALS to find the site in your area. If nothing comes up in your area please search under “all areas”.
You may go to any area to receive treatment.
This is your constitutional right.
