Glencoe Health

Introduction:
At this time, there is no cure for AIDS. However, various drugs exist to help patients with HIV or AIDS slow the development of the disease. Taking these drugs can help keep people with AIDS alive and healthy for as long as possible. This fact sheet from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides some basic information about HIV treatment.

Links to Explore:
Starting Anti-HIV Medications
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/StartingAnti-HIVMeds_FS_en.pdf

Directions:

• Click on the link and read the fact sheet.
• Then answer the following questions:

1			How does HIV make it harder for the body to fight infections?
2			What is viral load?
3			List three factors that a patient and doctor should consider when deciding when to start treating HIV with drugs.
4			List two reasons people with HIV should not begin treatment as soon as they are diagnosed as HIV-positive.
5			What is an antiretroviral drug?