Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - October 13, 2004
Fred Ouma, Kampala
Akol said taking alcohol with other drugs that have depressant effects like heroin, methadone affected the laboratory tests leading to five possible results of an HIV test.
Speaking at a sensitisation workshop for reporters in Kampala recently, Akol said alcohol was a strong addictive with a devastating effect on lives.
"Casual drinking and the occasional blow out can be real fun, but it is important to be aware of possible effects," she said.
Quoting scientific studies, Akol said in persons already infected, the combination of heavy drinking and HIV has been associated with increased medical and psychiatric complications, delays in seeking treatment, difficulties with HIV medication compliance and poorer HIV treatment outcomes.
"Alcohol may also increase the severity of AIDS-related brain damage, which is characterised in its severest form by profound dementia and a high death rate," she added.
However, decreasing alcohol use in people with HIV or who are at risk of becoming infected reduces the spread of HIV and the diseases associated with it. The outcome of HIV therapy improved significantly among alcoholics who stopped drinking.
Akol said, "The decreasing alcohol use among HIV patients not only reduced the medical and psychiatric consequences associated with alcohol consumption but also decreased other drug use and HIV transmission."
She said that alcohol increased susceptibility to some infections that can occur as complications of AIDS.
The infections include tuberculosis; pneumonia caused by the bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae; and the viral disease hepatitis C, a leading cause of death among people with HIV.
The HIV progress and the development of AIDS-associated infections may be controlled by highly active antiretroviral (HAART), a combination of powerful antiviral medications.
Akol said alcohol and other drug abuse treatment should be considered for primary HIV prevention as well.
"Alcoholism prevention is of particular importance. AIDS is a leading cause of deaths and tackling alcohol and drug abuse would prove worthy in the fight against the pandemic," she said.
She urged the public, especially pregnant mothers, to seek VCT services from accredited centres to reduce on the possible health risks.
She said counselling was the most important component of voluntary counselling and testing, with testing only being 5% significant in helping people living with AIDS. She urged the public to ensure the results given to them are correct.
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