Antiretroviral (ART) medication has been developed to clear HIV out of the blood and lymph vessels but not out of the hiding places. It is not a cure.
It usually consists of three drugs in one tablet - zidovudine, lamuvudine and nevaripine. The medication is to be taken once or twice a day as specified, same time with no breaks. There will be default if the drug is missed for a period of time.
With default, the HIV in the hiding places will come bursting out stronger than before.
Treatment in most care groups starts when the CD4 level drops lower than 600 in the immune system. Treatment must not wait too long. With the onset of AIDS, it may be too late.
Immunity may require the patient to begin a second line of drugs. There is a third line but not in PNG at the present time.
Medication will be stronger with a daily intake of fruit and vegetables to strengthen the immune system.
Smoking and consumption of alcohol will weaken the effectiveness of the ART medication. There are few living smokers or boozers with HIV and on ART. Remember Peter Momo who was on ART, smoked and boozed. He died some years ago.
Positive Living without ART will still increase the lifespan of the sufferer but only for 1-2 years.
The immune system will still weaken slowly to the point of death. There will be dementia, hallucinations, delusions, memory and weight loss.
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