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Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Imam Reza Hospital said: "In terms of HIV treatment, the good thing that has happened in the last few years is the variety of drugs that have grown throughout the world, including Iran, and the therapeutic protocols have made earlier treatment possible in all patients.” In a conversation with WEBDA, regarding new HIV treatments, Dr. Amin Bojdi said: “It takes 5 to 10 years for this disease to show the symptoms of HIV.”
He continued: “Of course, some patients begin to show signs of a viral illness or pseudo-mononucleose syndrome including fever, pharyngitis, sore throat, and large lymph nodes at the very beginning of the introduction of the virus, which is usually mild and the patient does not refer to a physician.” Dr. Bojdi said: "It may take 10 to 15 years for most patients to the advanced disease, which is called AIDS which is characterized by advanced immunodeficiency (opportunistic infections and cancers); which unfortunately, some patients are diagnosed in the advanced phase of their illness with high risk of morbidity and mortality.” The first phase of HIV is asymptomatic in the body Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Imam Reza Hospital said: “This disease remains in clinical latency for several years, and in other words, the first stage of the disease is asymptomatic in the body; but the virus is not hidden but in progress, and the person has the risk of transmitting the virus to others.” He added: “After an asymptomatic phase that lasts a few years, the person enters the symptomatic phase, which indicates a mild and moderate immune deficiency, and eventually the patient shows symptoms of AIDS in stages three and four; which includes advanced immunodeficiency and certain infections such as PCP. Dr. Bojdi said: “Diagnostically, asymptomatic patients, especially those with a history of high-risk sexual behavior or drug injection addicts, can perform test for HIV. Accordingly, physicians can also better encourage patients to do HIV testing if they encounter suspected cases, especially those with a history of high-risk behaviors for HIV.” Oral thrush manifests in the third stage of HIV infection Head of Infectious Diseases Department at Imam Reza Hospital stated: “Some patients may also refer with middle-end symptoms, especially those who have oral thrush or oral candidiasis; these symptoms manifest at stage three of the infection.” New HIV treatments are permanent and help the patient's normal longevity He reminded: “Regarding HIV treatment, a good thing that has happened in the past few years has been the drug variety grown in many parts of the world, including Iran, and the treatment protocols have led to early treatment in all patients.” Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases at Imam Reza Hospital said: “In Iran, since 2017, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, treatment of all patients has been on the agenda; while in the past, treatment used to begin as the disease wsa developed into moderate more advanced phases.” Dr. Bojdi said: “This treatment does not eradicate the disease, but heavily suppresses the virus and controls the disease and prevents complications and progression of the disease, of course, the treatment is permanent and the patient should not stop taking medications.” Head of the infectious diseases department at Imam Reza Hospital said: "This type of treatment improves the quality of life of the patient, helps the person to have a relatively normal life expectancy and HIV will not cause premature death." 46 percent of HIV patients have access to treatment services Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases at Imam Reza Hospital said: “Unfortunately, in the world, of more than 36 million people who have been identified, less than 18 million patients are under treatment, accounting for about 46% of the global patients which shows that more than half of the patients do not have access to health care.” Doctor Bojdi added: “At the center of HIV in Mashhad, unfortunately some patients can not regularly visit the center for a variety of reasons, so that out of more than 300 follow-up patients, only about 140 patients refer to the center for regular treatment monthly.” Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Imam Reza Hospital mentioned access to treatment effective in controlling the epidemic, and said: “Despite all the advances in the world, more than one million new cases of the disease are recorded annually, which is not good considering the measures taken.” |