AIDS treatable but not curable yet....................

History
AIDS is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in humans, and similar viruses in other species (SIV, FIV, etc.). The late stage of the condition leaves individuals prone to opportunistic infections and tumors. Although treatments for AIDS and HIV exist to slow the virus' progression, there is no known cure. HIV, et al., are transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk. This transmission can come in the form of anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.

Most researchers believe that HIV originated in sub-Saharan Africa during the twentieth century. it is now a pandemic, with an estimated 38.6 million people now living with the disease worldwide. As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on June 5, 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4–3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. A third of these deaths are occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and destroying human capital. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. HIV/AIDS stigma is more severe than that associated with other life-threatening conditions and extends beyond the disease itself to providers and even volunteers involved with the care of
people living with HIV.
Treatment
Currently available agents are:
1) Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)@
· Zidovudine (AZT)
· Duadanosine (DDI)
· Stavudine (D4T)
· Lamivudine (3TC)
· Abacavir

2) Protease Inhibitors

· Nelfinavir
· Indianavir
· Saquinqvir
· Ritonavir

3)Non-nucleoside reverse transciptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

· Efavirenz
· Nevirapine
· Delavirdine



Treatment Regimen
1) 2 NRTIs + 1 protese inhibitor
OR
2) 2NRTIs + Efavirenz
OR
3)2NRTIs + 2 protese inhibitors



Aim of antiretroviral therapy is to increase CD4 count and decrease the viral load.

Antiretroviral therapy should be started :
1) CD4 < 350
Or
2) Viral Load (PCR-RNA) > 55,000 by RNA



Though the antiretroviral therapy is helpful to improve the condition of patient but No definitive cure is available for AIDS for now. The best way out is Prevention.





Link; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS