Prevention & Treatment

For many at risk to HIV/AIDS in Africa treatment isn't a likely option, due to lack of healthcare and economic status. The most important thing to may of these individuals is prevention by refraining from unprotected sex and promiscuity. It is more likely that a man transmits HIV to a woman during vaginal intercourse than vice versa. In developed countries like the U.S. treatment is available and has transformed a certainly fatal disease into a chronic disease. However, the availability and management of AIDS has led to a relaxed attitude toward safe sex practices and it is often forgot that this disease is treatable, but not curable (Tortora et al, 2013, p. 552).

There are multiple forms of treatment for HIV/AIDS. Chemotherapies are used to control reproduction of the virus. Revers transcriptase inhibitors targets the  reverse transcriptase enzyme which is not present in human cells and is only used to fight HIV infections, terming it antiretroviral. These drugs cause the termination of the viral DNA. Protease inhibitors target HIV proteases by ceasing essential process of creating mature proteins. Cell entry inhibitors function in preventing the necessary step of the virus attaching to the CD4+ receptors. Integrase receptors target HIV integrase enzymes that functions in creating the HIV provirus. For best treatment success a cocktail of drugs are used to stop viral replication at all stages of the process, it is known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). As many as 40 pills a day can be used with a complex schedule for best outcomes (Tortora et al, 2013, p. 552-553).

The most ideal form of treatment would be  a vaccine, but currently there are no vaccines available to prevent against infection of the virus. Like all vaccines it would have to produce antibodies against the virus, but because this virus mutates at such a high rate it makes doing this very difficult. Another form of treatment being researched is the use of vaginal and anal microbicides. "Microbicides are gels, fils, or suppositories that can kill or neutralize viruses and bacteria" (Microbicides, 2012).  Microbicides have started to be used in clinical trials, and the results are showing a decrease in infection when women used the microbicide gels before and after sex.

This video has a great animated depiction of how antiretroviral drugs work!!!
http://youtu.be/mzfnxCEsck4