th to 12th week of pregnancy, after the fetus`s organs have gone through their most rapid development. This delay may minimize any adverse effects of AZT on fetal development, but it needs to be balanced with the health of the mother and possible transmission of HIV to the fetus.
Most children with HIV became infected from their mothers near the time of birth. This means that for many babies, treatment can be started soon after birth. Federal guidelines recommend that all HIV-infected children younger than 1 year and all HIV-infected children of any age with symptoms of HIV infection or evidence of immune suppression be treated with anti-HIV drugs. For HIV-infected children with no symptoms, therapy can be deferred if risk of disease is considered low based on viral load and immune status.
Triple combination therapy can be used for all HIV-infected infants, children and adolescents treated with HIV drugs. Infants during the first six weeks of life who have been exposed to HIV but whose HIV status is unknown can be treated with AZT as sole therapy. Infants diagnosed with HIV while receiving AZT alone should be switched to combination therapy.
Aids Related Illnesses
Because AIDS patients have suppressed immune systems, they can fall prey to certain illnesses that people with healthy immune responses don`t get, or get only very rarely. One common such illness is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), which can be life-threatening. Treatments to prevent PCP are NebuPent (aerosolized pentamidine), a fine mist inhaler, and drugs such as Bactrim and Septra that contain both trimethoprim and sulfa. Mepron (atovaquone) is approved for treating mild-to-moderate PCP in pregnant women and patients who cannot tolerate standard treatment. Neutrexin (trimexetrate glucoronate) also is approved for pregnant women and for moderate-to-severe PCP when given with Leucovorin (folinic acid).
Cytomegalovirus retinitis is a potentially severe AIDS-related eye infection that can lead to blindness. Approved treatments include ganciclovir, marketed as Cytpinkovene in oral dosage and as Vitrosert as an implant, Foscavir (foscarnet), and Vistide (cidovir).
Kaposi`s sarcoma (KS) is a type of AIDS-related cancer that causes characteristic purple or skin tumors that are flat or slightly raised. Intron. For such type of cancer there are several treatments. These include radiation, surgery, cryotherapy or freezing of individual lesions, and injecting lesions with anti-cancer drugs.
A (human interferon-alpha), doxorubicin liposome injection, or daunorubicin citrate liposome injection can be used to treat KS. Panretin, a topical gel, also is approved for treating certain types of KS lesions.
AIDS wasting syndrome involves major weight loss, chronic diarrhea or weakness, and constant or intermittent fever for at least 30 days. Approved treatments include Marinol (dronabinol), Megace (megestrol), and Serostim (somatropin rDNA for injection).
To treat anemia and low white blood cell counts associated with AIDS, hematopoietic stimulating factors are sometimes used.
One of the key strategies in combating HIV is early detection. People who suspect they are infected should immediately go in for an HIV test. The earlier the treatment begins, the longer the chances of survival. Treatment usually begins with multiple drugs to contain the virus. Thereafter, viral levels are regularly monitored to spot changes in disease progression. This allows doctors to alter their prescribed regimens accordingly, for the best results.
The patient should also ensure that s/he fosters excellent hygiene habits to keep opportunistic infections at bay. The proper lifestyle changes, healthy activities and good nutrition are other ways of ensuring the disease progression is slowed or halted.
On the patient`s part, excellent hygiene habits, lifestyle changes, healthy activities and good nutrition also help to contain AIDS. Once the disease enters the terminal stage, death is almost certain. In such circumstances, alleviating the suffering of patients is of primary concern. Patients are then