HIV/AIDS Background:
Info from the Mayo Clinic:
Despite improved treatments and better access to care for people in the hardest-hit parts of the world, most experts agree that the pandemic is still in the early stages. With a vaccine probably decades away, the best hope for stemming the spread of HIV now lies in prevention, treatment and education. Once the virus enters your body, your own immune system also comes under attack. The virus multiplies in your lymph nodes and slowly begins to destroy your helper T cells (CD4 lymphocytes) — the white blood cells that coordinate your entire immune system.
During the last phase of HIV — which occurs approximately 10 or more years after the initial infection — more serious symptoms may begin to appear, and the infection may then meet the official definition of AIDS. In 1993, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) redefined AIDS to mean the presence of HIV infection as shown by a positive HIV-antibody test plus at least one of the following:
The development of an opportunistic infection — an infection that occurs when your immune system is impaired — such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). A CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 or less — a normal count ranges from 600 to 1,000. Originally, HIV tests took ~2 weeks to obtain results. Now, however, several "rapid" tests can give highly accurate information within as little as 20 minutes.
These tests look for antibodies to the virus using a sample of your blood or fluids collected on a treated pad that's rubbed on your upper and lower gums. The oral test is almost as sensitive as the blood test and eliminates the need for drawing blood. A positive reaction on a rapid test requires a confirming blood test. And because the tests are relatively new and were originally approved for use only in certified laboratories, they may not be available in all locations.
Treatment:
When HIV was first identified in the early 1980s, there were few drugs to treat the virus and the opportunistic infections associated with it. Since then, a number of medications have been developed to treat both HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections. For many people, including children, these treatments have extended and improved the quality of life. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health estimate that since 1989, anti-retroviral medications have provided HIV-positive Americans with 3 million years of extended life.
World Health Organization:
For the successful use of ARVs there should be access to specific services and facilities:
HIV counseling and testing and follow-up counseling services to ensure psychosocial support and adherence to treatment;
Capacity to appropriately manage HIV related illness and opportunistic infections;
A laboratory that provides tests for monitoring treatment;
A continuous supply of antiretrovirals and medicines for the treatment of opportunistic infections and other HIV related illnesses; reliable regulatory mechanisms.
