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Basic Message
Laboratory Tests
Viral Load
When to start treatment?
Treatments
Anti-HIV Drugs
Drugs and Doses
Side Effects
Treatment Changes
Salvage Therapy
Infections
Vaccinations
Lipodystrophy
Micronutrition
Women & HIV
Glossary
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BASIC
MESSAGE
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Get Tested - Anonymously |
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If you test positive, get
informed, get a good doctor who will give you a full immune health workup. |
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Get baseline CD4 counts and
viral load tests done and repeat every 3 months. Watch your counts. Women
should get ‘GYN’ and ‘PAP’ tests every six months. |
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If your CD4 count is already
below 500 and your Viral Load is above 5,000 or if your viral load is
30,000-50,000 regardless of other factors, consider carefully the treatment
options. |
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Learn about drug
interactions. |
| If the CD4 trend is below 200, consider a more
aggressive anti-HIV regimen and learn about preventive therapies for PCP,
MAC and Toxo infections. |
HIV
& AIDS
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AIDS
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AIDS
is acquired immune deficiency syndrome caused by a virus called HIV
(human immunodeficiency virus)
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Transmission
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Through
certain body fluids: Blood, Semen, Vaginal secretions, Breast milk
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People
who can become infected
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Anyone
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You
cannot be infected with HIV
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By:
Touching, Sneezing, Coughing, Sharing eating utensils
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You
can be infected with HIV
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By
high risk behaviour: Unprotected (without condoms) anal/vaginal sex
Sharing
needles with an infected person
Oral
sex (less risky)
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Prevention
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Protected
(safe?) sex
Education
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