What is HIV and AIDS?

esults.
Post-test counseling is to provide necessary support according to the result. If positive,
the counselor will explain what the next step should be, the treatment available, and
existence of support groups, what this may mean for the person. If negative, there will
be a discussion on safer behaviour practices and about returning after the window
period for re-test.
What is Anti-Retroviral Therapy?
Anti-retroviral medication (ARVs) is a combination of drugs used to reduce the volume
of the virus in the body (the viral load) to the lowest possible level as quickly as
possible and for as long as possible. There are lots of different types of anti-retroviral
drugs in order to minimise the possibility of opportunistic infections and the
development of AIDS. There are several types of anti-retroviral drugs which all act
differently. Some work to stop the virus from attaching to a host cell, others to prevent
it from replicating itself. This is why most HIV patients receive a “cocktail” of drugs;
this is called combination therapy.
What is drug resistance?
HIV is a virus that replicates quickly once in the body but it doesn’t always reproduce
perfect copies of itself – this is called mutation. This is what makes it difficult to find a
vaccine for HIV. This mutation also causes drug resistance. The drugs cannot stop the
mutant strains from replicating so while it stops others, the mutant strain continues to
reproduce and becomes the dominant form.
What are first and second line therapy?
The first combination of drugs the patient receives is called first line therapy. If HIV
becomes resistant to this line of drugs or the side effects are very bad then the patient
will receive a new combination of drugs; this is called second line therapy.
China’s 4 free 1 care policy (see HIV in China section for more information) only
covers first line drugs. In areas where treatment has started early up to 40% of
patients are showing drug resistance, thereby needing second line therapy. However,
the Chinese Government is working to provide more second line therapy drugs as
part of its 4 free 1 care policy.
What is PEP?
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a combination of ARVs given to reduce the risk of
HIV infection after exposure. It is only given after an initial risk assessment which
decides that you had significant exposure. It is ideal to take PEP within the first 24
hours after exposure. After 72 hours, the drugs are no longer effective. The course of
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