Undetectable HIV Virus

Undetectable HIV Virus.
Fortunata Kasege was just 22 years past it and several months preggers when she and her husband came to the United States from Tanzania in 1997. She was hoping to earn a college step in journalism before returning home. Because she'd been in the process of moving from Africa to the United States, Kasege had not yet had a prenatal checkup, so she went to a clinic soon after she arrived. "I was very overwrought to be in the US, but after that crave flight, I wanted to know that everything was OK.

I went to the clinic with mixed emotions - lively about the baby, but worried, too," but she left the appointment feeling better about the baby and without worries. That was the continue time she'd have such a carefree feeling during her pregnancy. Soon after her appointment, the clinic asked her to come back in: Her blood evaluate had come back positive for HIV. "I was devastated because of the baby. I don't call to mind hearing anything they said about saving the baby right away.

It was a lot to interpret in. I was crying and scared that I was going to die. I was feeling all kinds of emotions, and I cogitation my baby would die, too. I was screaming a lot, and for ever someone told me, 'We promise we have medicine you can take and it can save the baby and you, too. Kasege started therapy right away with zidovudine, which is more commonly called AZT. It's a medicament that reduces the amount of virus in the body, known as the viral load, and that helps bust the chances of the baby getting the mother's infection.

And "I had to take it every four hours, even in the middle of the night, so I set an startle for the middle of the night. I had to make sure my baby would be OK. I had to do it exactingly perfectly for my baby, and I didn't miss a dose. In 1997, the incidental of transmission was said to be 12 percent, but my doctors said don't worry, we haven't seen anyone who's adhered to the c physic have a baby with HIV. And they were correct.

My baby was healthy. And I was healthy. It was such a exhilarated time that came from the worst feeling". Kasege had a daughter, and she named her Florida. The baby's try came back negative for HIV, but to be safe, Kasege enrolled her in a study that tracked scarcely Florida for two years to be sure she didn't develop HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. And, she didn't.

Florida is now 16 years old, and for years she's been plateful her progenitrix spread the word about preventing HIV infection. Kasege is an ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. "I want other women with HIV to recognize that you can have a good ending. Your report doesn't have to end tragically.

It's a bad feeling for a mom to even think about it. But, you can protect your baby. Be sanguine and stick to the treatment, and your baby will be fine". Kasege's faithful adherence to her medication hasn't helped just her daughter but has helped her as well. "My virus is undetectable, and it's been that style since three months after I started taking the medication. I gall about other things now, raising a teenager who's phil. I don't agonize about HIV".