Treatment of AIDS

Treatment and care consists of a number of different elements including voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), food and nutrition, support for the prevention of onward transmission of HIV, follow-up counselling, protection from stigma and discrimination, spiritual support, the provision of antiretrovirals (ARVs), treatment of STIs, management of nutritional effects, prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections (OIs), traditional treatment, palliative care, preparing for death, family and orphan support.

HIV positive people have differing needs according to the stage of their infection. The first stage is when people are asymptomatic, that is when they have no signs/symptoms of their infection. The second stage is when people have symptoms of HIV infection. The third stage relates to support and care of people who are terminally ill and nearing the end of their life.

The different aspects of care and support are all generally described at the first point at which they are needed. For example, VCT should ideally be provided at the asymptomatic stage, but it may also be needed at a later stage for those who did not wish to be tested earlier.