arketed 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 advised to join support groups where members share common experiences.
According to researchers, even amongst all the research activity, we still may be many years away from finding a possible cure for AIDS. Because of advances in treatment, the number of AIDS cases in the USA and Canada has been dropping, but the disease continues to grow virtually unchecked in some countries.
Earlier, the progression of HIV was gauged through T-cell counts. Tests now measure the virus directly through a blood test, a much better indicator of the rate of HIV replication. This is done by checking the viral load (the number of particles in a blood sample)-directly proportional to the level of replication-that pinpoints HIV activity in a person`s body.
HIV antibodies are detectable only three weeks to six months after the first infection. This invisible period is termed the `window period`. Any tests undertaken during this period may be negative even if the person is infected.
The ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) Test
There is no test per se to detect AIDS. Prevalent tests simply detect the presence of HIV antibodies in human blood, which our bodies produce to fight the invader. The ELISA, the Rapid Simple and the Western Blot tests are currently used to detect HIV. Among these, the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is the most common screening test. After a person tests positive for this, it`s repeated to double-check the result. When an ELISA test yields two or more positive results, the Western blot is used to confirm these results, which is more specific than the ELISA. The two tests combined are more than 99.9 per cent accurate.
To circumvent the Window period, America`s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting tested six months after the last possible exposure to the virus. The CDC also stresses the importance of protecting oneself and others from further possible exposures to HIV during the six months between exposure and the test.
Additionally, CDC recommends that pregnant women 