Anti-HIV treatment

Anti-HIV treatment for children

HIV and hepatitis B

Liver disease is now one of the leading causes of illness and death in people with HIV. This is because many people with HIV are also infected with hepatitis B virus, or (but sometimes, and) hepatitis C virus. 

Some anti-HIV drugs - 3TC (lamivudine), FTC (emtricitabine), and tenofovir (Viread) – work against both HIV and hepatitis B. If a person with HIV and hepatitis B is taking anti-HIV treatment, then their combination of anti-HIV drugs should include drugs that work against both viruses.

But, it is important that drugs that are effective against HIV are not used for the treatment of hepatitis B in HIV/hepatitis-infected people if they are not taking HIV treatment. This could lead to HIV developing drug resistance.

HPV vaccination

Human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause anal and genital warts. Some strains of HPV, particularly HPV-16 and HPV-18, are associated with anal and cervical cancer. Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix have recently been developed that have been shown to provide very high levels of protection against these strains of HPV.

Trials have shown that these vaccines work best in girls and young women who haven’t yet had sex, or are very sexually inexperienced, and who haven’t been infected with HPV.

And a recently published study has shown that the use of Cervarix doesn’t help treat pre-existing HPV infection. The findings of the study underline that the existing HPV vaccines are protective, not therapeutic.

In the UK, it was recently recommended that Gardasil should be provided to girls aged between twelve and 13.

Trials are currently underway to see how effective and safe the HPV vaccines are in boys and men.

People with HIV were excluded from trials during the development of the vaccines, so it is currently unknown if they protect people with HIV against the main cancer-causing strains of HPV. People with HIV have elevated rates of anal and cervical cancer.

Some gay men and people with HIV are paying for HPV vaccination from private doctors. If you are considering this option, make sure that the doctor you choose tests you to see if you are already infected with HPV.

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