HIV & AIDS

HIV symptoms last for only a short time at initial infection if they occur at all. In this first stage of the HIV virus the symptoms could also be caused by many other conditions. In the next...

HIV infection causes the immune system to become increasingly weak over time; this is because HIV targets and infects cells of the immune system. When host cells are infected, they stop performing...

The second stage of HIV-disease is known as asymptomatic HIV; it follows directly after acute infection, during which time some people develop a brief flu-like illness, but no HIV-specific...

HIV infection is managed primarily through the use of anti-retroviral medications. These medications target HIV at different stages as it infects and replicates within host cells. The goal of...

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disorder in which the body's defense mechanisms are impaired due to infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which damages T-cells, or...

HIV is a devastating disease with many complications, including dementia, which occurs when HIV infects the brain tissue. If a person with HIV suffers from dementia, she appears confused,...

HIV-related wasting is diagnosed when a patient with HIV has lost 10 percent or more of their body mass without intending to do so. This includes losing both lean muscle mass and fat reserves,...

Fuzeon, which is the brand name of a fusion inhibitor drug known as enfuvirtide, is used to help slow the progression in patients with HIV towards AIDS. Although it is by no means a cure for...

People who are HIV positive frequently suffer from a weakened immune system, which makes them vulnerable to many opportunistic infections. People with HIV or AIDS must manage such vulnerabilities...

Patented by the pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKiline, Trivizir is a fixed-dose combination drug which combines three commonly used HIV and AIDS medicines in a single pill. Trivizir is made...

Also known by a variety of clinical names, including efavirenz, Dp.m.-266 and EFV, Sustiva is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It is useful in the treatment of both HIV...

Selzentry (maraviroc) is a relative newcomer to the treatment of AIDS and HIV, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in patients in 2007. It is a powerful alternative...

Fortovase is a second-generation form of the drug saquinavir, which has been in use in the fight against HIV and AIDS since 1995. It belongs to a class of drugs doctors use to treat HIV called...

Generically known as MK-639, indinavir or IDV, Crixivan has been in use as a means of treating HIV and AIDS since it was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996.

One of the more powerful drugs available in the class of medicines known as "nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors" (NRTIs), Emtriva can be effective in retarding HIV's progress in your...

In 1987, the world was introduced to the first drug to be widely used to treat HIV infection and AIDS. They're called nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, or NRTIs for short....

Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors, usually abbreviated to NNRTIs, try to halt the spread of the HIV virus by retarding the rate at which it can multiply. This gives the patient's...

Usually administered in pill form, protease inhibitors (PIs) are one of many drugs classified as "antiretroviral medications." These medicines work by stifling the reproduction of the HIV virus...

Fusion inhibitors, also called entry inhibitors, are a relatively new arrival in the fight against HIV and AIDS. These powerful antiretroviral drugs work in a completely different way: their...

Pregnant women with HIV and AIDS face a difficult conundrum when they become pregnant. Using antiretroviral drugs to keep the viral load low is essential to giving the baby the best chance of...

The most common side effects associated with the drugs usually used in HIV and AIDS drug treatment are increases in cholesterol, shifts in the way the body stores fat, nausea, dizziness, headache...

Lamivudine, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the brand name Epivir, is used to treat both hepatitis B and the HIV virus believed to cause AIDS. It is usually taken in pill form, once to twice per...

Abacavir, which is marketed under a number of brand names, including Ziagen, is the world's most potent nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). However, the benefits it offers do not...

Belonging to a class of drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS known as "fixed dose combinations," Epzicom is the brand name for a combination mixture of abacavir and lamivudine. Both abacavir and...

Because the HIV virus usually mutates when it replicates itself inside a host body, a person infected with the virus that causes AIDS is often simultaneously afflicted with many different strains...

Adapting a Community HIV Prevention program is more than simply advocating safe sex. It is a means of opening the lines of communication and helping community members apply preventative measures...

Good nutrition aids the immune system in fighting disease and strengthens the body in preparation for those medications that will help you stay healthy. These recommendations follow the guidelines...

Living with HIV doesn't mean you can't enjoy your life. Living healthily and finding balance can help you to enjoy each day to the fullest. These guidelines follow the recommendations of the...

Anti-HIV drug therapies aim to slow down the virus's ability to replicate by targeting different parts of the virus essential to replicate itself. Because these drugs can have various degrees of...

Adhering to your drug regimen can be demanding, but it is crucial to your well-being. With a few tricks and lots of support, you can stick to your plan and still make the most of your life. These...