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- For Pain Patients and Professionals
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a human disease in which there is a systematic failure of the immune system, thereby leading to severe opportunistic infections. HIV is treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which helps in preventing the virus from replicating in the body. ART also enables the immune system to repair itself and restrict further injury. Nevertheless, the long-term use of ART leads to multiple neurological complications (e.g.neuropathic pain). Neuropathic pain (NP) arises if the nervous system is damaged or not working correctly. NP is is characterized by pain in both hands and feet and can hinder the quality of life (QOL) as it is always linked to impaired cognition, anxiety, depression, loss of function, among others.