As medical understanding about how the virus invades the body and multiplies in the cells grew, drugs to inhibit its growth and slow its spread has been developed. Treatment of drug for HIV / AIDS is complex and expensive, but very effective in slowing replication (reproduction) of the virus and to prevent or reduce some of the effects of the disease.
Medicines to treat HIV / AIDS require at least three strategies:
- Interfering with HIV to reproduce their genetic material (these drugs are classified as nucleoside or nucleotide anti-retroviral)
- Interfering with HIV enzymes are required to cover certain cells of the body (they are called protease inhibitors)
- HIV interferes with the ability to package its genetic material into the viral code - ie genetics "script" HIV must be able to reproduce (known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NNRTI])
Because these drugs act differently, doctors usually prescribe a combination "cocktail" of drugs that are taken every day. This pattern is known as HAART (HAART highly active antiretroviral therapy means). Doctors can also prescribe certain medications to prevent opportunistic infections - for example, certain antibiotics can help prevent PCP, especially in children.
Although a number of medications are available to treat HIV infection and slow the onset of AIDS, unless they are managed properly and taken on a round-the-clock schedule, the virus can quickly become resistant to this combination of drugs. HIV is highly adaptable and find ways to thwart medical treatments that are not followed properly. This means that if prescribed medicines are not taken at the right time every day, they will soon fail to keep HIV from reproducing and care of the body. When this happens, a new system should be set up with different medicines. And if this new mix of medicines is not taken correctly, the virus will likely become resistant to it as well and the person will eventually run out of treatment options.
Apart from the difficulty in obtaining young children to take their medication on a timed schedule, medicines have other problems. Some have unpleasant side effects, such as a tasteless, while others are only available as tablets, which can be difficult for children to swallow. Parents who need to give their children these drugs should ask the doctor or pharmacist for suggestions on making them easier to take. Many pharmacies now offer flavoring that can be added to the bad tasting medicine, or your doctor may recommend mixing apples with pills or pudding.
Because the number of drugs described above is still limited, doctors are concerned that if children fail to take their medications as prescribed (including missing just a few doses), the virus may develop resistance to HIV medicines - making it difficult or impossible to treatment. It is therefore doubly important that children take their medication as directed. One of the most important treatment greetings for any parent or caregiver that the child must take medication regularly, when the court order. This may be difficult - but many HIV / AIDS and family support groups experienced providers can help families with practical suggestions to help them succeed with the many daily challenges they face.
There are many new drugs that combat HIV infection are expensive. One of the main challenges faced by individuals, families, communities and nations is how to make these medicines easily accessible to all who need it.
