6.2. How will I know if the ARVs are working for me?

A health worker will check whether the ARV medicines are working well for you with a:
* CD4 count
This test checks the number of your CD4 cells. If the ARV medicines are working well, you will have more CD4 cells to fight infection in your body. This is a sign that your immune system is getting stronger. If your CD4 count was less than 50, it may not go up very much in the beginning, but you will still feel better.
* Viral load or viral count test
This test checks if your viral load or viral count is going down until there is so little HIV in the blood that the test can't find any virus. If the ARV medicines are working well, this can happen in about 12 weeks. Remember, ARVs cannot cure or remove HIV from the body completely even if the blood test shows that there is no virus. If you stop taking ARVs, the virus will start to increase again.
* Examination
The health worker will check your weight and see if there are any changes in your body and your health.
If the ARV medicines are working well:
- You feel better and will live a healthier and longer life
- You will be stronger and have more energy
- Your immune system will be stronger
- The HIV in your body will stop multiplying and growing
- Your viral load will drop and may even become undetectable
- Your CD4 count will go up - we normally aim for a count of more than 500
- You won't get sick as often as you did before you went on ARVs
- Your cough, thrush, rash or diarrhea might go away
- If you lost weight, you will put weight back on
- If your appetite was poor, it will improve, and you will want to eat more


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