HIV-positive and not on medication (Eve for life)

Rosie Stone answers some questions in the Observer you may find this one interesting:

Worried

Dear Eve,

I have a friend who is HIV-positive for seven years now and she is still not on medication. Is this normal, and should she be worried that she is not on medication?

Worried.

Dear Worried,

I do not think that you should be worried about your friend if she has a doctor or a health care provider that she regularly visits. As long as she is following the instructions of her doctor she does not have anything to fear. This means that she does her tests: CD4 counts (Tcells or fighter cells) and viral load (the amount of HIV infection in the body) levels at regular intervals. More than likely her CD4 count is above 350 as most doctors use this benchmark to start their patients on antiretroviral treatment [ARVS].

Your friend is very lucky that her immune system is high-functioning and is still working well even though she is infected with HIV. There are other persons who live with the infection for over 10 years before needing medication. This is precisely why HIV is so dangerous and deceptive.

Some persons can be infected for a long period of time and do not know that they are. The only way to know your status is to get tested. In 2009 there were 7,000 persons on antiretroviral treatment in Jamaica. It was also estimated that the number of persons needing this treatment is twice that amount, 14,000.

As long as your friend keeps in constant contact with her doctor and reports truthfully any changes that might occur, follow the doctor's suggestions which should include using a condom every time, eating as healthily as she can, and try to incorporate some exercise in her life, there is no need to worry.

HIV risk factors


Dear Eve,

I read somewhere that over 30 per cent of persons who have AIDS did not have any risk. How come? So why did they get AIDS.

Not Understanding.

Dear Not Understanding,

It is true that in 2008 in Jamaica 34 per cent of persons reported with AIDS had no obvious risk for HIV infection. The risk factors for getting HIV infection in Jamaica are firstly, having multiple sex partners; secondly, having a history of sexually transmitted infections; thirdly, having sex with sex workers, and using crack cocaine. In other words, if you engage in any of these activities your risk of contracting HIV is higher than the persons who do not engage in these activities.

Unfortunately, there are persons who report that these risk factors do not apply to them yet they end up being infected. Sexual relations involve at least one other person and if your partner engages in risky behaviour then you can end up in the 34 per cent who get infected through their partners' risky sexual behaviours.

You can send your questions or comments relating to HIV or related issues to info@eveforlife.org or write to Eve for Life, C/O Jamaica Observer.