Dr Ramokene Maphoto

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Services includes :

• Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy:
  Antiretroviral treatment works by inhibiting the replication of HIV in the body. This targets and blocks different stages of the virus’ life cycle, which then disables the virus to replicate. Antiretroviral treatment reduces the viral load and helps prevent re-emergence of the virus. Dr Maphoto may recommend that people who are diagnosed with HIV should start antiretroviral treatment immediately, regardless of their CD4 T lymphocyte cell count. Antiretroviral therapy is a long term treatment which lowers your viral load over time and may lead to it being undetectable. This helps prevent CD4 cells from depleting and helps reduce the risk of HIV transmission. It also enhances the quality of life for people who are living with HIV.
• Voluntary Counselling and Testing:
  In most cases, patients HIV are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. Voluntary counselling and testing are fundamental for early diagnosis of HIV in order to provide early initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Testing for HIV helps provide you with the ability to know your status, take control of your health and make safer choices with regards to your sexual relationships. Dr Maphoto is specially trained and has expertise in counselling patients before and after an HIV test. The main objective for HIV counselling is to empower individuals to live a happy and healthy life, no matter what the outcome of the test.
• Assessment and Management of Virological Failure:
  Antiretroviral treatment’s main goal is to suppress the replication of HIV in the body by lowering the amount of virus present in the body. When the viral load replicates, it causes symptoms which may be problematic and may be a sign of virological failure. Virological failure is diagnosed when the viral load is above 1000 copies/ml. If this is found, it is then considered HIV treatment failure. Depending on the treatment history, people who have virological failure may have varying degrees of drugs resistance. To treat virological failure, Dr Maphoto may recommend that you change the antiretroviral treatment regimen and also test for drug-resistant HIV.
• HIV Drug Resistance Management:
  When you are infected with HIV, the virus begins to multiply in the body. There will be thousands of different variant strains which are a little different from each other. HIV may multiply and sometimes may mutate. While a majority of these mutations may be too distorted to infect or survive, some mutations will survive in the presence of antiretroviral drugs. This is called HIV drug resistance. HIV drug resistance occurs when antiretroviral medications stop being effective in preventing the multiplication of the virus. Drug-resistant HIV can also be passed to others, which will then make their treatment more difficult as well. To treat this condition, Dr Maphoto may recommend that to switch to a different drug class.
• HIV Co-Infections:
  Co-infections occur when the body is affected by multiple diseases at the same time. People who are living with HIV have a lowered immune system which makes them be more susceptible to developing other infections such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. If you are diagnosed with HIV, Dr Maphoto will initiate antiretroviral therapy immediately in order to keep your viral load down. She will also advise you on how to strengthen your immune system and give you insights on the precautions and lifestyles changes to make in order to avoid co-infections. A healthy lifestyle and diet will help ensure that build your immune system.
• Viral Opportunistic Infections:
  People who are diagnosed with HIV normally have a weak immune system which may then make them susceptible to several infections. These infections may be bacterial, fungal or viral and are known as opportunistic infections. These infections are common in people who don’t have a healthy immune system. People who are diagnosed with HIV normally develop viral infections such as Cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus infection and herpes zoster, which may be hard to manage. These infections may be recurrent and require proper management by Dr Maphoto. Antiretroviral treatment may help prevent opportunistic infections when you are living HIV.
• HIV Discordant Couples:
  These are couples where one partner may have an STD such as HIV, while the other partner does not. These couples may live a long and healthy life together if necessary precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of HIV to the other partner. It is important that couples get tested and disclose their statuses, especially if they are in a sexual relationship. Antiretroviral treatment may be recommended immediately as a precaution for the patient's partner. Other treatment and support options may be recommended as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication for the HIV negative partner.
• HIV Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis:
  These are HIV medications that are taken to prevent HIV if exposed. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a treatment prescribed for people who are in an ongoing sexual relationship with a partner who is living with HIV. Post-exposure prophylaxis is emergency treatment given to people who have been exposed to HIV. These are prescribed to decrease the risk of getting HIV. Post-exposure prophylaxis must be taken in less than 72 hours of exposure. If you believe you have been exposed to HIV, it is important that you go to the emergency room immediately to get treatment
• Adolescent HIV Management:
  Some teens acquire HIV through mother to child transmission during pregnancy or childbirth, while others acquire it through sexual activity. Adolescent HIV transmission is common due to low condom use, STDs and ignorance. Dr Maphoto may prescribe antiretroviral treatment to help treat HIV by preventing the replication of the HIV virus in the body and preventing the progression to AIDS. Treatment for teens living with HIV depends on the patient’s growth and development. Treating teenagers may be complicated as they may not adhere to the medication as prescribed due to forgetfulness and difficulty with managing side effects.
• Sexually Transmitted Viral Infections:
  The most common viral infection is herpes that is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and less commonly by type 1 (HSV-1). Herpes is contracted through contact with bodily fluids and may be transmitted even when there are no symptoms present. It may cause symptoms such as painful blisters and ulcers which may later burst and leave red, open sores on your genitals, anus and thighs. These blisters may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms and burning pain when urinating. There is no cure for herpes; therefore, Dr Maphoto may help you manage the outbreaks and lessen discomfort when symptoms arise.
• Viral Hepatitis:
  This is an inflammation of the liver, which may be caused by a virus. There are different types of hepatitis such as types A, B, C, D, and E. These viruses normally attack the liver which later leads to cirrhosis and eventually liver failure or liver cancer, if left untreated. It may cause symptoms such as headache, fever, jaundice and clay-coloured stool. Hepatitis A and E normally subside and go away on their own, while hepatitis Band C may be more severe and cause irreversible damage to the liver. Dr Maphoto will prescribe antivirals to slow down the replication of the virus and boost the immune system.