What should clients be monitored for during antiretroviral therapy?

Clients undergoing antiretroviral therapy need to be monitored closely for side effects and medication effectiveness. This is crucial because antiretroviral medications can have various side effects, including nausea, fatigue, and potential impacts on mental health, among others. Monitoring helps healthcare providers identify any adverse reactions early and manage them effectively to ensure adherence to the therapy.

Additionally, assessing the effectiveness of the medication is vital. This typically involves regular checks of viral loads and CD4 cell counts to evaluate how well the treatment is controlling the HIV virus. Effective monitoring can lead to timely adjustments in the treatment regimen if the current therapy is not working, which is essential for the long-term health of clients with HIV.

While monitoring for opportunistic infections is important, it is usually a consequence of the client's immune status rather than a direct focus of antiretroviral therapy monitoring. Weight gain and changes in dietary habits, while potentially relevant in some cases, are less critical compared to the fundamental need to track side effects and the overall effectiveness of the treatment.