FAQs
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus which destroys the body's immune system. With a weakened immune system, the infected person can fall ill more easily from other infections which can also be more serious than usual. HIV can also make a person ill through other ways e.g. direct damage to various organs, and chronic inflammation.
HIV is transmitted mostly sexually, but can also be transmitted by sharing injection needles with an HIV-infected person. If untreated, HIV can be transmitted from a woman to her baby during pregnancy, or during labour or breastfeeding. In less common instances, people working in the healthcare field may become infected when exposed in very specific ways to certain body fluids of HIV-infected persons.
AIDS stands for Advanced Immunodeficiency Syndrome. If left untreated, or if inadequately treated, HIV will cause more and more damage to the immune system, until the infected person becomes very ill. This is an advanced stage of HIV infection and in general it takes many years after HIV-infection to develop AIDS; although in some cases it may occur faster.
FAQs
Yes! HIV medication has evolved a lot through the years and today we have very effective treatment available. The most common treatment is medication in the form of tablets (or syrup for babies/children), called antiretrovirals (ARVs) which must be taken every day for them to work. The medication prevents the HIV virus from replicating, and thus the virus cannot survive. The number of viruses circulating through the bloodstream (viral load) becomes very low meaning it can no longer damage the immune system. The relatively few viruses that remain become dormant since they cannot replicate. The immune system then has a chance to restore itself, and the infected person can become healthy again. Hopefully in the near future we will also have injectable ARVs which are given on a 3-monthly basis, as is available in some other countries.
NO. If you stop your ARVs, the HIV virus will become active again. Stopping and starting your ARVs may cause the virus to develop resistance to the ARVs, and they may not be effective anymore. The treatment is life-long.
There are many different types of ARVs. However, the type of medication used most frequently at the moment, have mild and temporary side-effects in general. These mostly include nausea and headache. If side-effects do not go away in a few weeks, you should talk to your doctor as they may not be the right ARVs for you, and your doctor may change your medication.
In rare cases, toxicities or allergic reactions may occur. It is important to follow up regularly with your doctor to monitor for these rare complications.
FAQs
Since most HIV transmissions occur sexually, you should practice safe sex. Here are some practical ways:
If you are already on treatment before falling pregnant, with a suppressed HIV Viral Load (a test which checks how active the HIV is in your body), the chances of passing HIV to your baby are extremely low. To further protect the baby, the baby will be given ARVs for a few weeks after birth.
If you become HIV positive while already pregnant, the risk is higher, but starting highly effective ARVs will help reduce the risk.
A mother with HIV can still breastfeed her baby—if a mother's HIV is well controlled, risk of transmission to the baby is very small; and the baby will stay on ARVs until breastfeeding is discontinued. However, in some cases formula feeding may be recommended if feasible.
FAQs
Yes, Dr. Jonker accepts most medical aid schemes except Discovery Keycare (other Discovery plans are accepted) and Bonitas Boncap. You can check with our reception or your medical aid provider if we accept them.
You can call Dr. Jonker's reception at 013 282 5321.
Contact
Got more questions? Get in touch.
013 282 5321
info@trustedcare.co.za
