Treat HIV/AIDS

The last twenty years have brought 2 major developments within the treatment of HIV/AIDS:

   1. medication that inhibit the virus's growth, preventing or delaying the onset of AIDS and permitting individuals with HIV to stay freed from symptoms longer
   2. medication that facilitate cut back the transmission of the virus from an HIV-infected mother to her kid

As medical understanding regarding how the virus invades the body and multiplies among cells will increase, medication to inhibit its growth and slow its unfold are developed. Drug treatment for HIV/AIDS is difficult and expensive, however highly effective in slowing the replication (reproduction) of the virus and preventing or reducing some effects of the disease.

Drugs to treat HIV/AIDS use many completely different methods, including:

   1. interfering with HIV's replica of its genetic material (called nucleoside or nucleotide anti-retrovirals)
   2. interfering with the enzymes HIV has to take over bound body cells (these medication are known as protease inhibitors)
   3. interfering with HIV's ability to pack its genetic material into viral code — that's, the genetic "script" HIV has to be able to reproduce itself. These medicines are known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
   4. newer styles of medications (integrase inhibitors and CCR5 inhibitors) that use completely different methods

Because these medication work in numerous ways in which, doctors usually prescribe a "combination cocktail" of those medication that's taken daily. This regimen is thought as HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) treatment. Doctors conjointly might prescribe medication to forestall bound opportunistic infections when a personality's immune system is extremely weak — for instance, some antibiotics will facilitate forestall PCP, particularly in youngsters.

A number of medicines will treat HIV infection and slow the onset of AIDS, however they have to be taken and administered properly on a round-the-clock schedule. Otherwise, the virus will quickly become proof against that exact "cocktail."

HIV is extremely adaptable and finds ways in which to outsmart medical treatments that aren't followed properly. this implies that if prescribed medicines aren't taken at the proper times daily, they'll soon fail to stay HIV from reproducing and taking on the body. When that happens, a brand new regimen should be established with completely different medication. And if this new mixture of medicines isn't taken properly, the virus can doubtless become proof against it, too, and eventually the person can run out of treatment choices.

Aside from the issue of obtaining young youngsters to require their medication on a timed schedule, the medications gift different issues. Some have unpleasant facet effects, like a foul flavor, whereas others are solely out there in pill type, which can be troublesome for youths to swallow.

Parents who got to provide their kid these medications will raise the doctor or pharmacist for suggestions on creating them easier to require. several pharmacies will add flavoring to bad-tasting medicines or your doctor might advocate mixing pills with applesauce or pudding.

Because drug choices are still restricted, doctors are involved that if youngsters fail to require their medicines as prescribed (even missing simply a couple of doses), the virus may eventually develop resistance to the prevailing HIV medication — creating treatment troublesome or not possible. therefore it's vital that youngsters take their medications as directed.

One of the foremost necessary home treatment messages for any parent or caregiver is that the kid ought to take all medications consistently, at the time the prescription indicates. this may be troublesome — however several HIV/AIDS family support teams and experienced medical suppliers can give sensible suggestions to assist families achieve success with the day-to-day challenges they face.

Many of the new medications that fight HIV infection are terribly expensive. within the u.  s., special programs will pay for medication for all HIV-positive youngsters. sadly, many folks haven't got access to those medicines in different elements of the globe, particularly in developing countries.