Do you know the basics facts about Pediatric ARVS?

  1. ARV drugs may be taken for several years, but then stopped when the child has an undetectable viral load or high CD4 count.

False

  1. It is best to use a combination therapy (two or more antiretroviral drugs at a time) in adults, but NOT in children.

False

  1. Missing doses or not taking ARVs on time lowers the amount of antiretroviral chemicals in the body, which means the virus is then able to replicate faster, increasing the chance of it becoming resistant.

True

  1. Sometimes side effects can be so strong, intolerable or even life-threatening that the treatment must be changed.

True

  1. In cases involving severe opportunistic infections, such as cryptococcal meningitis or tuberculosis, it may be necessary to stop antiretroviral therapy whilst the infection is treated.

False

  1. Antiretroviral treatment does not reduce illness and mortality among children living with HIV in the same way that it does among adults. It is less effective.

False

  1. CD4 counts in young children are generally much higher than in adults, and change with the child’s age. This means that adult guidelines on when to start antiretroviral treatment do not apply.

True

  1. Those taking ARVs and who have an undetectable viral load are ‘safe’ from becoming re-infected.

False

  1. A few of the antiretroviral drugs have harmful effects when used together and should not be combined (an example is stavudine and zidovudine).

True

  1. Some antiretroviral drugs have been combined into one pill, which is known as a ‘triple dose combination’.

False

  1. ARV drugs may be taken for several years, but then stopped when the child has an undetectable viral load or high CD4 count.
  1. It is best to use a combination therapy (two or more antiretroviral drugs at a time) in adults, but NOT in children.

  1. Missing doses or not taking ARVs on time lowers the amount of antiretroviral chemicals in the body, which means the virus is then able to replicate faster, increasing the chance of it becoming resistant.
  1. Sometimes side effects can be so strong, intolerable or even life-threatening that the treatment must be changed.

  1. In cases involving severe opportunistic infections, such as cryptococcal meningitis or tuberculosis, it may be necessary to stop antiretroviral therapy whilst the infection is treated.
  1. Antiretroviral treatment does not reduce illness and mortality among children living with HIV in the same way that it does among adults. It is less effective.

  1. CD4 counts in young children are generally much higher than in adults, and change with the child’s age. This means that adult guidelines on when to start antiretroviral treatment do not apply.
  1. Those taking ARVs and who have an undetectable viral load are ‘safe’ from becoming re-infected.
  1. A few of the antiretroviral drugs have harmful effects when used together and should not be combined (an example is stavudine and zidovudine).
  1. Some antiretroviral drugs have been combined into one pill, which is known as a ‘triple dose combination’.