A 2011 report issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), USA, found that about 1 in every 5 HIV-positive Americans is unaware of their HIV-status, and only 49% of those who are aware receive ongoing medical care and treatment.
HIV blood test
Diagnosis is made through a blood test that screens specifically for the virus.
For those whose tests came back positive, they will be asked to undergo some other tests to see how the infection has progressed, and also to decide when to start treatment.
If a person has been exposed to the virus, it is crucial that they get tested as soon as possible. The earlier HIV is detected, the more likely the treatment will be successful. Also, precautions can be taken to prevent the virus from spreading to other people.
After infection with HIV, it can take up from three weeks to three months for the virus to show up in testing. Re- testing may be necessary.
If a patient's most at risk moment of becoming HIV infected was within the last three months, he/she can have the test immediately. However, a good doctor will urge that another test be carried out within a few weeks.
A virology form for HIV blood tests.
Ultra-sensitive HIV sensor - scientists from Imperial College London reported in Nature Nanotechnology (October 2012 issue) that they have developed an extremely sensitive sensor that detects viral infections, including HIV. They say the sensor is ten times more sensitive at detecting an HIV biomarker that anything else on the market today; it is also extremely cheap. The doctor can see the results by looking at the color change in a liquid solution.
What are the treatment options for HIV/AIDS?
Earlier HIV antiretroviral treatment is crucial - it improves quality of life, extends life expectancy and reduces the risk of transmission, according to the World Health Organization's new guidelines issued in June 2013.When an HIV-positive adult's CD4 cell count is 500 cells/mm3 or lower they should start treatment immediately.
According to Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General "These guidelines represent another leap ahead in a trend of ever-higher goals and ever-greater achievements. With nearly 10 million people now on antiretroviral therapy, we see that such prospects - unthinkable just a few years ago - can now fuel the momentum needed to push the HIV epidemic into irreversible decline."
Currently, there is no vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS. But treatments have evolved which are much more efficacious - they can improve patients' general health and quality of life considerably.
Emergency HIV pills. If an individual believes they have been exposed to the virus within the last 72 hours (three days), anti-HIV medication, called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) may stop infection. The treatment should be taken as soon as possible after contact with the virus.
PEP is a very demanding treatment lasting four weeks. It is also associated with unpleasant side effects (diarrhea, malaise, nausea, weakness and fatigue).
After a positive HIV diagnosis, regular blood tests are necessary to monitor the progress of the virus before starting treatment. The therapy is designed to reduce the level of HIV in the blood.
Antiretroviral drugs. HIV is treated with antiretrovirals (ARVs). The treatment fights the HIV infection and slows down the spread of the virus in the body. Generally, patients take a combination of medications called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy).
The combination of drugs is adapted to each individual. HIV treatment is usually permanent and lifelong. HIV treatment is based on routine dosage. Pills must be taken on a regular schedule, every time. Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, skin rashes, moodiness, alterations to the adipose (fat) tissue, birth defects.
HIV/AIDS and diarrhea - HIV-positive patients, and those with AIDS tend to suffer from diarrhea. It is the main reason people go off their medications, or switch to other antiretroviral therapies prematurely. On January 2nd 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer 125 mg delayed-release tablets), the first anti-diarrheal medication for patients with HIV/AIDS. Fulyzaq was created specifically for patients taking antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS.
Antifungal cream Ciclopirox eradicates HIV - researchers at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School reported in the journal PLoS ONE that Ciclopirox, a widely used antifungal cream, as well as Deferiprone, a medication used to remove excess iron from the body, eradicate HIV in cultured cells. They added that when treatment stops, the virus does not return.
Complementary or alternative medicine. Although widely used, alternative/complementary medications, such has herbal ones, have not been proven to be effective or ineffective. According to some limited studies, mineral or vitamin supplements may provide some benefits. Patients are urged to discuss these options with their doctors.
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