HIV treatment in 2009 looks a lot different than it did even five or 10 years ago. While we seem to be no closer to a cure for AIDS, changes in the way we treat patients and new pharmaceuticals have breathed new life, literally, into the hopes for the infected. These new medications are more powerful, so they can be taken less frequently, and they still produce fewer side effects than the medication of yesterday. On the other hand, it's important to understand that infected patients should take their treatment options seriously and understand that many with the virus can go up to 10 years without medication and still never see symptoms.
The Need For Medication
Those infected with HIV will need to consult with their doctor to determine what, if any medications will be right for them. The doctor will determine this by taking blood tests, which will show a couple of things. One, the blood test will show the patient's viral load--in other words, how much of the virus is in the bloodstream. Two, the test will show a T-cell count, which is a test of the immune system. Based on these results, a clearer picture will emerge regarding the patient's need for treatment.
HIV Medications
In the U.S., there are specific guidelines for doctors to follow when it comes to treating HIV in the most efficient way possible. This will include starting the patient on a regimen of drugs, which often include Reyataz, Lexiva or Kaletra, many times combined with a booster such as Sustiva. There are several medications and combinations on the "not recommended" list due to research trials or simply a better solution having come along since the drug was widely used.
Drug Combinations
HIV treatment in the 21st century gets much of its effectiveness and power from combinations of drugs, intended to work with each other to provide the best possible results. For instance, a patient beginning medicinal therapy will often be given a combination of two NRTIs and a protease inhibitor. Some of these drugs have now been combined into a single medication, lowering side effects and lessening the burden on the patient.
Changing Therapies
Doctors treating HIV look at the evolution of the patients' treatment needs in terms of a front-line therapy and a second-line therapy. Looking at it in this way is necessary because of the nature of HIV, and its ability to morph and become resistant to current medications. The doctor continues to monitor blood work, and if she finds the medications are not working, she will move to a new set of drugs in the hopes of continuing therapy successfully.
HIV in Children
Antiretroviral therapy is the order of the day when it comes to treating children with the HIV virus. These drugs help to reduce incidences of illness and even fatalities in children with the disease, just as they do in their adult counterparts. There have been tremendous success stories in HIV-heavy areas such as Brazil and Kenya, where children on complete ARV treatments experienced enormously positive survival rates as compared to the average.
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