AIDS

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AIDS	Antibodies	Canker sore (aphthous ulcer)	Dermatitis, seborrheic - close-up
Dermatitis, seborrheic on the face	Herpes zoster (shingles), disseminated	Histoplasmosis, disseminated in HIV patient	HIV
Kaposi's sarcoma - close-up	Kaposi's sarcoma - lesion on the foot	Kaposi's sarcoma on the back	Kaposi's sarcoma on the thigh
Kaposi's sarcoma - perianal	Molluscum contagiosum on the face	Molluscum on the chest	Mycobacterium marinum infection on the hand
Primary HIV infection	STDs and ecological niches	Tuberculosis in the lung

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

There is no cure for AIDS at this time. However, a variety of treatments are available that can delay the progression of disease for many years, and improve the quality of life of those who have developed symptoms.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body. A combination of several antiretroviral agents, termed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), has been highly effective in reducing the number of HIV particles in the blood stream, as measured by a blood test called the viral load. This can help the immune system recover from the HIV infection and improve T-cell counts.

Although not a cure for HIV, and people on HAART with suppressed levels of HIV can still transmit the virus to others through sex or sharing of needles, these treatments have been enormously effective for the past ten years. There is good evidence that if the levels of HIV remain suppressed and the CD4 count remains high (above 200), life can be significantly prolonged and improved. However, HIV may become resistant to HAART in patients who do not take their medications on schedule every day. Genetic tests are now available to determine whether a particular strain is resistant to a particular drug -- these may be useful in determining the best drug combination, and adjusting the regimen if it starts to fail. These tests should be performed for any failing treatment course, and prior to starting therapy.

When HIV becomes resistant to HAART, salvage therapy is required, to try to suppress the resistant strain of HIV. Different combinations of medications are used to try to reduce viral load, and there are a variety of new drugs coming out on the market for the treatment of drug-resistant HIV.

Treatment with HAART is not without complications. HAART is a collection of different medications, each with its own side effects. Some common side effects are nausea, headache, weakness, malaise, and fat accumulation on the back and abdomen ("buffalo hump"). When used long-term, these medications increase the risk of heart attack by affecting fat breakdown, specifically through increasing lipids and glucose levels.