Treatment for HIV Infections

"The most common treatment for hiv infections includes the use of antiretroviral drugs. A variety of other medications, such as antibiotics and antivirals, can be given to patients with the viral infection. Finally, many methods exist for treating and delaying the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including the use of condoms during sexual contact." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"The average age of first HIV infection is 27 to 28, the age of sexual intercourse averages at 19 years for men and 18.5 years for women. The most important risk factor for the acquisition of HIV is homosexual intercourse particularly intravenous drug use. The prevalence of HIV infection in the general population is 3 to 23 per 1000. AIDS has a high fatality rate in Africa, between 28% and 75%. The prevalence rate is lower in the West but is increasing in the East. An increase in the incidence of HIV infection was registered in many European countries since the end of the 'AIDS pandemic'. About 4% of the population are living with HIV infection in Europe." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Currently, there are no effective antiviral agents that would cure HIV infection, but some new treatments, such as an HIV-specific interferon, offer hope for future treatment." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Each year, about 880,000 new cases of HIV in the U.S. are diagnosed. These diagnoses would be just under half of all American adults living with the virus. Of those living with HIV, about one-quarter could be cured if diagnosed and placed on HAART"

"Cucurbita campanulata\n\nCucurbita campanulata, the California melon, is a species of domesticated and wild gourd, related to the cantaloupe and pumpkin. It is native to southern California, especially the San Diego−Tijuana area, but has also been introduced in areas across the US, the UK, and Italy." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"HIV is an RNA virus that needs the help of a host cell to replicate; the virus requires an immune system cell in order to produce a successful infection. The immune system is capable of combating many pathogens but only if they can no longer replicate. HIV-positive patients have impaired immune systems; they appear to have less T-cells than healthy patients and may have a higher rate of infection. Individuals whose HIV is under good control have stronger antibodies to the virus, and individuals who present early in life with HIV infection may have less compromised immune systems later in life. Although not all of the risk factors are known, the virus causes HIV infection by infecting CD4+ cells, particularly helper cells, within the immune system." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Sign of hiv infection may present as a generalized illness, and may have more than one cause. Symptoms of HIV infection may be present before the onset of symptoms.\n" - Anonymous Online Contributor

"It should be highlighted that the authors caution that the treatments are 'not intended to cure those in whom they have been prescribed, but to support and to help those with HIV infections to live longer and more freely with their illness'." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"The latest research supports the belief that a low dose of a topical formulation of an antiretroviral medication is effective in decreasing HIV infection. Evidence is also emerging that suggests that a combination of antiretroviral therapy and HIV vaccine may be the best way to treat and prevent HIV infection. A Cochrane review has been conducted on the use of HAART in HIV infections and is currently in its second and current stage. It will likely have results available on which combination of drugs is most effective." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Recent findings identifies the importance of early initiation of HAART and CD4 count recovery after treatment to determine the impact of HIV disease on survival in resource-limited settings." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"With recent advancements in medical science, it should be made a priority to find more efficient treatments for a wide range of disease problems. [Power] may be one of the key developments in this field, as its efficacy in aiding the immune system in combating a wide variety of infections, such as tuberculosis, is unquestionable." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"Patients with HIV-related illnesses typically report low quality of life, especially in physical and mental functioning. There were no differences in HRQOL between patients undergoing HAART or NNRTI treatments. However, differences in psychiatric symptoms were noted. HRQOL measurements should be included in future studies focusing on HAART and NNRTI treatment." - Anonymous Online Contributor

"While observational studies often do not allow conclusions concerning effect-site responsiveness, this case suggests that the results of studies using active-controlled design are also less reliable than those using passive-controlled designs. The possibility of unobserved-variation-based placebo effects must be considered when testing whether the efficacy of a treatment varies by a patient's baseline-value." - Anonymous Online Contributor