ABSTRACT
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus and causes infection that is, as yet, incurable. The infection results in a variety of illnesses, which can be prevented by suppressing the virus. The illness experience of a patient with HIV therefore depends on access to and effectiveness of antiretroviral medication. In strong market economy countries, advanced disease is uncommon and problems relate more to the side effects of therapy. Here, symptom management is aimed at enabling individuals to tolerate their life-sustaining treatment. However, in situations in which resistance to treatment has developed or where adherence to therapy is poor, advanced disease can still occur. In these circumstances and in those parts of the world where access to drugs remains poor, devastating problems such as wasting, severe diarrhoea, overwhelming infections, tumours, blindness and dementia may occur.
