Question

A patient has recently been diagnosed as positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The patient is unsure whether the medication regimen prescribed is actually helping. The patient complains of several adverse effects and is especially upset because he or she was asymptomatic before beginning treatment.

How would you respond? What information about the progression of HIV/AIDS could you provide that will aid the patient in sticking to the treatment regimen?

Answer 1

In the case of the Positive of HIV there is decrease in the CD4 count of the patient. And during any step of the therapy if patient feels that medication regimen is not working properly, then he/she should report it to the concern health professionals. Further if there is case of any adverse effect associated with the therapy the nursing staff should discuss it with the specialist pharmacy professional to find the root cause of the instant. And if the patient is asymptomatic before beginning treatment then this is serious problem as the patient is carrier for a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms of the disease or disorder.

In this case the nursing professional should take the CD4 count of the patient. The HIV infection may lead to AIDS, but the proper and scheduled treatments today can delay the progression of the disease. A proper medication plan can help in the patient sticking to the treatment. Ziduvudine, stavudine, lamivudine, dilaverdine and other common medication along with the second line of medication is taken in the therapy.

Along with the medication there is need of proper patient counseling during whole course of the therapy.