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Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: Difference between revisions
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Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (view source)
Revision as of 05:06, 27 October 2014
, 27 October 2014→Treatment
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== Treatment == | == Treatment == | ||
There is no cure for AIDS at this time. However, treatments are available to manage symptoms. Treatment can also improve the quality and length of life for those who have already developed symptoms. Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body. A combination of antiretroviral drugs, called antiretroviral therapy (ART), also known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), is very effective in reducing the amount of HIV in the bloodstream. This is measured by the viral load or how much free virus is found in the blood. Preventing the virus from reproducing or replicating can improve T-cell counts and help the immune system recover from HIV infection. People on ART with suppressed levels of HIV can still transmit the virus to others through sex or by sharing needles. With ART, if the level of HIV remains suppressed and CD4 count remains high, life can be prolonged and improved. HIV can become resistant to one combination of ART. This is most true in patients who do not take their medications on schedule every day. Tests can check whether an HIV strain is resistant to a particular drug. This information can be useful in finding the best drug combination and for adjusting the drug combination when it starts to fail. When HIV becomes resistant to HAART, other drug combinations must be used to try to suppress the resistant HIV strain of HIV. There are a variety of new drugs on the market for treating drug-resistant HIV. Treatment with ART has complications. Each drug has its own side effects. Common side effects are: collection of fat on the back and abdomen, diarrhea, general sick feeling, headache, nausea, and weakness.<ref name=avert/> | |||
When used for a long time, these drugs increase the risk of heart attack, perhaps by increasing the levels of cholesterol and glucose (sugar) in the blood. People who are on ART are monitored by their health care provider for possible side effects. Blood tests measuring CD4 counts and HIV viral load will likely be done every three months. The goal is to get the CD4 count close to normal and to suppress the amount of HIV virus in the blood to a level where it cannot be detected. Medicines may be prescribed to treat problems related to AIDS such as anemia, low white cell count, and to prevent opportunistic infections.<ref name=avert/> No safe and effective cure for HIV currently exists, but scientists are working hard to find one, and remain hopeful. The only way to know for sure if someone has HIV or AIDS is to get tested. Testing is relatively simple. A person can get an HIV/AIDS test from a doctor or healthcare provider, community health center, Veteran’s health center, Title X family planning clinic, and many other locations. There are also FDA-approved HIV home test kits a person can use. One of the easiest ways to find an HIV testing location is to use the HIV Testing and Care Services Locator. Someone can just type in their ZIP code and will get a list of HIV testing sites near by including those that offer free HIV testing.<ref name=AIDSgov/> | |||
== Video == | == Video == | ||
