Hi Pozziepinoy,
It's been one month since I've known I'm positive. I also started my ARV's last month since my CD4 is in the 300 level. Unfortunately, I got chicken pox. Anybody out there who had experienced the same? I'm really upset. :(
XXX
CONTRIBUTOR'S RESPONSE
Hi XXX,
Thank you for your email. Firstly I can understand how upset you must be feeling. It is never an easy thing to learn you're HIV+ especially when an opportunistic infection seems to have occurred. Everyone who has experienced this, and that is almost every HIV+ person, is undoubtedly sending all the healing energy they can muster your way as they read this. You are certainly not alone. However, the information you have provided is a little limited. For safeties sake I am going to assume you have seen, and been diagnosed by a HIV Medical Specialist. Self diagnosing is a dangerous practice at any time but especially if you are immune compromised. Therefore, if you haven't seen your HIV Medical Specialist about any rashes, painful or not, that have appeared, please do so as soon as possible.
Having said that, Varicella-Zoster Virus (VSV) is the causative agent of both (1) primary VSV infection, Chicken Pox (Varicella) and (2) reactivated VSV infection, Shingles (Zoster). Anti viral drugs are available to treat both conditions but they must be started as soon as possible. Your HIV Medical Specialist will prescribe the necessary ones for your particular version of VSV, should you have it.
I have no experience of Chicken Pox as an adult as I had already had it as a child. Once you have it the VSV lies dormant, usually in the nerve cell bodies and is kept in check by the immune system. Thus shingles usually attacks when a persons immune system is under stress so it is fairly common amongst HIV+ people with lower than normal CD4 counts. I had a fairly severe outbreak of Shingles which lead me to start my now life long course of ARV's so I know how uncomfortable and painful this particular version of VSV can be. Mine was first diagnosed in the emergency room of St Vincents Hospital in Sydney Australia. At this stage of the outbreak the rashes were weeping live VSV virus thus making me highly infectious. The attending physician started me on acyclovir immediately and applied a bandage to help soak up the virus. Over time the rashes dried up and healed. I have had no further health issues resulting from it mainly because I had it diagnosed and treated early.
I hope you have found this answer helpful.
Stay healthy, stay compliant with your ARV regimen,
Malcolm Brown
International Contributor
"WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
NO PLHIV is alone with his or her struggle with HIV!"
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