Question
Is it too late to start treatment?
26 April 2023. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load.
My brother is HIV positive and he has never taken medication. Now he’s suffering from nervous breakdown, diarrhoea, weight loss, meningitis-like headache, hiccups etc. Is it too late to take ARVs? Is the body going to recover?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Has your brother seen a doctor? As you have mentioned a meningitis-like headache this requires medical attention immediately.
No it is not too late to start treatment. Do you know your brothers CD4 count and viral load?
It is important that your brother does start HIV treatment but he will need his other symptoms managed also. It is also likely that he will be given an antibiotic called co-trimoxazole to take alongside his treatment as his CD4 count recovers. This will be to prevent other infections as his immune system improves.
Starting treatment does mean that your body will be able to recover. Many people start treatment with very low CD4 counts and over time their body is able to repair. This is a process that can take time but his health will start to improve. How long has your brother been HIV positive?
Josh.
Hi Alwaba, are you able to speak with a doctor before Monday?
If you have meningitis how are you currently being treated?
HIV meds do not need to be stopped when managing other infections.
Are you still taking the Bactrim? and have you been told anything about how to manage any skin changes by the doctor who prescribed it?
Yes i was told by the nurse to stop since my result with menengitis came positive&my cd4 count is low,i reacted in bactrim with reddish&itchy rush
Hi Alwaba, do not stop taking your medications. As you have a low CD4 count it is more important that you remain taking them.
How long have you bene taking Bactrim? As with any new skin change this should be assessed by a doctor.
The nurse who gave me my results said i should stop any treatment&my cd4 count is very low,i’ve reacted to the bactrim treatment with reddish&itchy rush on my body.
Hi Alwaba, HIV meds should not be stopped. There is no reason for you to stop taking HIV meds.
It is good that you will be able to discuss your results soon with the doctor. Have you been told by anyone else to stop your meds?
And do you know your current CD4 count and/or viral load?
Hi,i’ve started taking arvs last week&the blood results came with positive menengitis so the nurse suggested that i should stop taking arvs&again yersterday i did a test where they draw water from the back&the doctor said i must come on monday for the results,now am lost i dnt knw if i should continue to take arvs or wait for the second results because the doctor didnt say anything .
Hi Reign, CD4 count will recover when taking HIV treatment regularly. HIV treatment suppresses HIV and stops the virus damaging the CD4 cells. This means that the body can then naturally recover its own CD4 cell count. Unforuntately this can be a slow process. It can take a few years for CD4 count to return to a healthy range. There are no other treatments to help speed this recovery. The most important thing to do is ensure your brother is taking his treatment every day to allows his CD4 cells to recover.
His CD4 count is 5,83 % and his viral load is 10622 copies. He has started TB treatment. Meningitis tests came negative. How best can he pull up his CD4 count to be in a normal level, besides HIV treatment?
Hi Regin, it is good to hear that your brother is now in hopsital and started Tb treatment. Has he started HIV treatment yet?
Thank you so much for this crucial information. Yes, he has been admitted to the hospital 3 days ago. Tests are still underway. Viral load, meningitis and CD4 count tests are yet to be done. He has started TB treatment. Also, a scan showed that one of his kidneys is not functioning well. He has been positive for roughly 10 years now.