Will I survive without ARVs?
Jun 01, 2008
TOXOPLASMOSIS, which causes brain abscesses, is a serious opportunistic infection, which is also known as an AIDS defining illness. People who have toxoplasmosis are said to be in stage four HIV infection and should be on ARVs. <br>
Dear Doctor,
I tested HIV-positive in 2003 and was put on septrin prophylaxis. Recently, I got paralysed on one side of the body and had to be rushed to hospital where the doctors diagnosed me to be having toxoplasmosis. I was put on a high dose of septrin and advised to start taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). After two weeks, I developed a severe skin rash and the ARVs had to be stopped. I was then referred to another centre for care. When my CD4 count was done, it was found to be 400 cells/ml. My new doctors have now said I should be off ARVs and remain on septrin. How safe am I considering I had this serious opportunistic infection.
Willy
Dear Willy,
TOXOPLASMOSIS, which causes brain abscesses, is a serious opportunistic infection, which is also known as an AIDS defining illness. People who have toxoplasmosis are said to be in stage four HIV infection and should be on ARVs.
Normally, people with AIDS-defining illnesses like toxoplasmosis have low CD4 counts. In this case, since your CD4 count is high, other causes of paralysis such as stroke should be ruled out.
Since you had a serious reaction to ARVs, you should stay off the drugs for sometime, especially if your CD4 count is repeated and found to be high.
We normally start ARVs in patients who have CD4 counts of 250cells/ml and below. It would also be helpful if your viral load were done to find out how active HIV is in your body.
If your viral load is high yet you have a history of an AIDS-defining illness, it might be prudent to go back on ARVs, but avoid the offending drug.
I tested HIV-positive in 2003 and was put on septrin prophylaxis. Recently, I got paralysed on one side of the body and had to be rushed to hospital where the doctors diagnosed me to be having toxoplasmosis. I was put on a high dose of septrin and advised to start taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). After two weeks, I developed a severe skin rash and the ARVs had to be stopped. I was then referred to another centre for care. When my CD4 count was done, it was found to be 400 cells/ml. My new doctors have now said I should be off ARVs and remain on septrin. How safe am I considering I had this serious opportunistic infection.
Willy
Dear Willy,
TOXOPLASMOSIS, which causes brain abscesses, is a serious opportunistic infection, which is also known as an AIDS defining illness. People who have toxoplasmosis are said to be in stage four HIV infection and should be on ARVs.
Normally, people with AIDS-defining illnesses like toxoplasmosis have low CD4 counts. In this case, since your CD4 count is high, other causes of paralysis such as stroke should be ruled out.
Since you had a serious reaction to ARVs, you should stay off the drugs for sometime, especially if your CD4 count is repeated and found to be high.
We normally start ARVs in patients who have CD4 counts of 250cells/ml and below. It would also be helpful if your viral load were done to find out how active HIV is in your body.
If your viral load is high yet you have a history of an AIDS-defining illness, it might be prudent to go back on ARVs, but avoid the offending drug.