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Although
there have been advances in the treatment of HIV/AIDS,
the disease is still a community-wide health problem.
As of December 2006, the total number of people living
with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada is 5,684.
Medication
cocktails are used to slow down the progress of the HIV
virus and the damage to the immune system. The
effectiveness of the medication works better on some
people and might not work for all. It is imperative to
seek medical care.
The
Southern Nevada Health District offers free,
confidential testing. In fact, it offers the
traditional blood test as well as the OraSure HIV-1 test
(the oral swab test). Results for the blood work
are available in about seven days and the OraSure test
results usually take about 10 days. In addition,
the health district offers the newer OraQuick Advanced
Rapid HIV Antibody Test, which is available
Monday-Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursday
morning between 8 a.m. and noon. The OraQuick test
is $25 and takes about 20 minutes to run; results are
available the same day. The three tests are about
99 percent accurate. HIV testing is available at
the Southern Nevada Health District’s main campus –
625 Shadow Lane. To ensure confidentiality, there
is a separate entrance on the south side of the
building. For information, contact the health
district’s AIDS clinic, (702) 759-0702. Testing
is also available at the health district’s Spring
Valley clinic, 6330 Spring Mountain Road, Suite F each
Tuesday and Wednesday, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Spring Valley center can be reached by calling (702)
759-0701. No appointment is necessary.
The
health district is a starting point for people who are
newly infected with HIV or diagnosed with AIDS.
Early intervention services including an overall health
evaluation that tests for additional sexually
transmitted diseases, a TB assessment, blood work for
T-cell and viral load counts, and referrals to
providers. As a standard of care, HIV/AIDS
patients require blood work assessments often and the
health district provides those services, some of which
are offered on a sliding scale fee basis. The
health district also offers Comprehensive Risk
Counseling Services to identify and reduce risk factors
for HIV-infected individuals. There are two HIV
physicians who visit the district twice each week and
provide clients with medical evaluations and testing
results.
The
health district also warns its HIV/AIDS clients about
health fraud. This is deceptive information in the
guise of promotions, advertising, the distribution and
sale of materials that are touted as effective ways to
diagnose, treat or mitigate HIV/AIDS; none of which have
been scientifically proven to be safe or effective.
Use of some of these products can delay proper care and
the illness might get worse. The district and AIDS
service organizations advise patients and clients to ask
questions and review any information about such
products.
Clients
should be suspicious of any claim that a product can
cure or prevent HIV/AIDS, especially if they:
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are
“guaranteed,” “secret” or “suppressed”
-
claim
to boost or enhance the immune system
-
require
or urge users to stop taking prescribed treatments,
therapy or medications
-
are
experimental drugs that require payment to acquire
(experimental drugs and treatments are almost always
free to patients in drug studies)
-
are
sold by using personal success stories or
testimonials
-
are
sold to prevent or cure cancer or other illnesses in
addition to HIV/AIDS
-
were
discovered or developed in “another country”
In
addition, be wary of any product, drug or treatment plan
that includes a warning not to discuss it with a
physician or healthcare provider, include misinformation
about HIV/AIDS or mention any type of conspiracy by the
government or pharmaceutical companies.
Such
fraudulent information can be reported to the Nevada
Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection in
Las Vegas call (702) 486-3194, in Reno call (775)
687-6300 or visit www.ag.state.nv.us.
For
more information, visit the Southern Nevada Health
District’s website, www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org.
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