Sometimes the nutrients can be absorbed but they are not broken down and used properly by the body. A person with these symptoms should seek medical attention. Nutrition counselling and education should be provided as soon as HIV is diagnosed. Sometimes wasting can be controlled by healthy eating, and by treating problems such as mouth sores, nausea, difficulty swallowing and diarrhea when they first start. Sometimes people have serious weight loss in spite of every effort to keep weight on.
Treatment is based on the symptoms a person has.
The goal of therapy is a high-calorie, well balanced diet, generally double the normal calorie intake. Oral nutritional supplements can be used to increase calorie intake if necessary. In certain cases, nutrition can be provided through tube or intravenous feeding. A visit with a dietitian should be arranged if you have wasting. A Guide to Nursing Care.