Benefits and Risks of Early Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV
Medical experts recommend that people begin treatment for HIV as
soon as they know that they are infected.1, 2 Treatment is
especially important for pregnant women, people who have other
infections (such as tuberculosis or hepatitis), and people who
have symptoms of AIDS. You may want to think about these
benefits and risks and discuss all the issues with your doctor.
Benefits and risks of antiretroviral therapy for HIV | Type of
therapy| Early therapy: Treatment with antiretroviral medicines
as soon as HIV is diagnosed. Delayed therapy: Treatment with
antiretroviral medicines some time after HIV is diagnosed. -
Increases ability to achieve and maintain control of viral
replication. - Delays or prevents weakening of the immune
system. - Slows or prevents progression of HIV to AIDS. - Lowers
risk of resistance to the medicines, if viral suppression is -
Reduces risk of HIV transmission. Even with early therapy, the
risk of HIV transmission still exists