Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 14, 2006
I recently found out that I am HIV positive when I went for routine medical check-up. I was told that I could delay developing AIDS if I eat well and use food supplements and immune boosters. Can I avoid developing AIDS by eating well and right?
Ruth
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Dear Ruth,
I wish to tell you that you will need continued post-test counselling to be able to cope with the challenge of living with HIV, so that in the long-run you will be able to live positively with HIV.
You also need to find out your CD4 count because this will help you know how much damage HIV has already done to your immune system.
Remember, it is possible to feel well, without symptoms when your CD4 is very low. This puts you in danger of developing serious opportunistic infections. Your healthcare provider will advise you on whether to start on ARVs or not.
Good nutrition forms part of the minimum care package for people living with HIV/AIDS. The other three components of this package include:
* Provision of insecticide- treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria, which is common in people who have HIV because of their lowered immunity.
* Provision of safe water and hygiene to prevent water-borne disease like diarrhoea.
* Provision of septrin to prevent diseases like common respiratory infections and others which can cause brain abscesses.
With the minimum care package, we may be able to delay the progression of the HIV infection to AIDS when people would require use of ARVs to prevent death from serious opportunistic infections like meningitis. I have even seen people whose CD4 count goes up when on the minimum care package without use of ARVs.
Lastly, you need to register with a credible centre accredited by the Ministry of Health to care for people living with HIV/AIDS, including provision of ARVs. Do not wait until you are very sick or weak to do this. Treating HIV is similar to repairing a torn cloth. If you wait until the tear worsens, it may be impossible to mend it.
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Send your question on HIV to Health Editor, The New Vision, P. O. Box 9815, Kampala or health&beauty@newvision.co.ug
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