ART should be started immediately after HIV diagnosis unless there are what?

• A. Side effects
• B. Drug interactions
• C. Lack of access
• D. Contraindications

Answer: (D)

Starting ART promptly after HIV diagnosis is recommended because it lowers illness and death and helps prevent transmission. The reason to delay is if there are contraindications to ART—medical reasons that make taking ART unsafe or inappropriate for the patient. If a patient has a documented allergy or intolerance to all available ART medications, or any condition that makes ART unsafe, treatment would be held until a safe option can be used. The other scenarios—side effects, potential drug interactions, or lack of access—are important considerations and can often be managed or addressed, but they are not by themselves absolute medical reasons to withhold therapy.