Question

A patient is taking a combination of antiviral drugs as treatment for early stages of HIV infection. While discussing the drug therapy, the patient asks the nurse if the drugs will kill the virus. When answering, the nurse keeps in mind which fact about antiviral drugs?

Select one:
a. They are given for palliative reasons only.
b. They will be effective as long as the patient is not exposed to the virus again.
c. They can be given in large enough doses to eradicate the virus without harming the body's healthy cells.
d. They may also kill healthy cells while killing viruses

Answer 1

Antiviral drugs for HIV control viral replication and can reduce the viral load to undetectable levels, but do not completely eradicate the virus as it can hide within immune cells. Some healthy cells may also be affected as viruses use host cell resources for replication.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing antiviral drugs for the treatment of HIV, it is important to understand that these drugs do not eradicate the virus completely but control its replication. The most successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is a combination of drugs that work synergistically to reduce viral load, often to undetectable levels. However, HIV has the ability to hide within the body's immune cells and can resume replication if treatment is discontinued. Additionally, while antiviral drugs target the virus, some of them may also affect healthy cells to a degree because viruses use host cell machinery for replication. It's crucial to use a tailored approach with a combination of antiviral drugs to manage HIV infection effectively.