Antiretroviral Treatment

What is Antiretroviral Treatment?

Medicines given to a person infected with HIV that reduce the reproduction of the virus in the body. Treatment slows the loss of lymphocytes and helps the immune system keep working for longer, and by reducing the amount of virus present it also lowers the chance of transmission; it is not a cure and does not remove the virus from the body.

This definition is part of the Disease and Immunity chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.

Concepts related to Antiretroviral Treatment

• hiv testing
• mother-to-child transmission

Common mistakes with Antiretroviral Treatment

• "Antiretroviral treatment cures HIV." It reduces the reproduction of the virus in the body. The virus is not removed. Write Treatment reduces the amount of virus, slows the loss of lymphocytes and lowers the chance of transmission; it is not a cure.