Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome : AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the disease progresses.
HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person (semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk). The virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivering the baby during childbirth, and through breast feeding.
HIV is transmitted primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse (including anal and oral sex), contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV.
Drugs for HIV infection
1. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor - Zidovudine, abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, and tenofovir.
2. Protease inhibitors - amprenavir, atazanavir, fosamprenavir (a pro-drug of amprenavir), indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and tipranavir.
3. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors - efavirenz and nevirapine
4. Drug which inhibits HIV from fusing to the host cell - Enfuvirtide
Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) : Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Management
There is currently no cure or effective HIV vaccine. Treatment consists of high active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) which slows progression of the disease.
Antiviral therapy)
Current HAART options are combinations (or "cocktails") consisting of at least three medications belonging to at least two types, or "classes," of antiretroviral agents. Initially treatment is typically a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) plus two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).Typical NRTIs include: zidovudine (AZT) or tenofovir (TDF) and lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC).Combinations of agents which include a protease inhibitors (PI) are used if the above regimen loses effectiveness