HIV treatment knowledge
1. Choosing a doctor with professional background and experience in HIV for treatment is the most important choice you can make. Not all doctors understand HIV.
2. If your CD4 is below 50, talk to your doctor about how to prevent Mycobacterium avium infection (MAC). This bacterial infection can be fatal if not treated promptly. At the very least, you should alert your doctor if you need to consider the possibility of MAC occurring.
3. If you have night sweats and fever when your CD4 is less than 250, contact your doctor immediately for TB screening.
4. If your CD4 is less than 350, take cotrimoxazole (cotrimoxazole tablets) to prevent multiple opportunistic infections, especially Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). This pneumonia can be fatal if not treated promptly. For prophylactic use in adults and adolescents, cotrimoxazole tablets (TMP
80mg/SMZ 400mg), taken orally, 2 tablets once daily.
5, if you have “mosquitoes” in your vision (floaters in the eye). Contact your doctor immediately, this may be caused by cytomegalovirus, untimely treatment can lead to blindness. Early antiviral treatment can reduce the risk. Even if cytomegalovirus infection is not the cause of the eye problem, HIV can cause other eye diseases.
6. Other medications, including herbal and proprietary Chinese medicines, should not be taken when it is not yet certain whether there is a conflict with the combination of antiviral drugs you are currently taking, as the consequences may be fatal. In addition, all kinds of health products must be used before the doctor to communicate, the best look at its composition, the quality of adulterated health products harmful.
7, before the first drug, men in CD4 greater than or equal to 400, women in CD4 greater than or equal to 250 is not suitable for the use of nevirapine.
8. Avoid nevirapine (NVP) and abacavir if your viral load is over 100,000. If your disease load is less than 50,000 at the time of initial dosing, consider both of these drugs. It is still very important to have the necessary tests for viral load before you go on the drug.
9. Know the possible side effects and dietary contraindications of the antiviral medication you are taking (e.g., whether fasting is required). Discuss your medical history and lifestyle habits with your doctor to find the most appropriate combination. It is recommended to avoid efavirenz if you have a history of psychosis or a family history of depression.
10. Take the combination of antiviral medications on time and in the right amount every day to maximize viral replication in your body. The time to take antiviral therapy is considered to be on time within one hour before and after the time to take the medication.
11. Learn to detect signs of HIV-related cancers, such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Early administration of antiviral therapy can reduce the risk.
12.The effectiveness of antiviral therapy must be responded to by a combination of both viral load and CD4 testing. This is primarily a question of whether virology and immunology have failed.
13. Viral load responds to the progression of the virus in your body. A high viral load increases your chances of getting sick.
14, CD4 reflects the health status of your immune system. An overall upward or downward trend is more convincing than an individual one-time result.
15.With your doctor, always pay attention to pancreatitis, lactic acidosis, severe erythema multiforme, and hypersensitivity reactions caused by abacavir (ABC).
16.If you are a woman, you can give birth to healthy offspring through mother-to-child blockade.
17.If your CD4 is greater than 200, consider getting the bacterial pneumonia vaccine, Pneumovax, every five years.
18.If you encounter unanticipated changes in body shape (fat atrophy), seek prompt medical attention to find out if individual antiviral drugs (such as Stavudine D4T) are causing it.
19.If you feel tired frequently, you need to consult your doctor promptly to find out the specific cause, such as anemia, etc.
20.If you are a woman, have a Pap smear (Pap smear) every six months to test if you are at risk of cervical cancer.
21.If you have non-HIV-related diseases, treat them as soon as possible. These diseases can affect your immune system.
22. Follow up every three months so that your doctor can follow up on indicators such as your CD4 or viral load.
23.If you have never had hepatitis A or B, talk to your doctor about how to get vaccinated.
24.Take multivitamins and B complex vitamins every day.
25. Do not eat raw fish, meat, or eggs. These foods can make you sick.