Cultural Treatments Of Hiv / Aids - 2200 Words

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Medications and Treatments Cultural treatments of HIV/AIDS Adji Ngathe Kebe Borough of Manhattan Community College Abstract The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an intelligent as well as remarkably complex microbe. It weakens the immune system as it progresses and eradicates crucial lymphocytes such as T-Cells or CD4 cells. It renders the body useless against fighting other infections such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. HIV is commonly transmitted through infected blood via unprotected sexual contact such as anal sex or oral sex, but it can be contracted through contaminated needles and such. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of infection in which the†¦show more content†¦Key Words: HIV/AIDS, CD4 cells, ART, HAART, AZT + 3TC/Combivir, Interferon Introduction Although a cure has not been discovered for HIV/AIDS there are many treatments/ medications capable of slowing its progression such as antiretroviral therapy, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), AZT + 3TC, and Interferon. These are the most commonly known to make an impact on infected individuals, but they are far from perfect. Antiretroviral therapy has been extolled as the most effective way of suppressing the disease. It is efficacious in lowering viremia in the blood stream as well as lowering the HIV replication to undetectable levels. Highly antiretroviral therapy, although similar to ART is much more aggressive as it uses a combination of three or more drugs to delay the progression of the virus. HAART must be consumed every single day, which heavily impact the liver. AZT + 3TC is a combination drug also known as Combivir. It is part of the ART regiment, though its efficiency has been highly debated since it has egregious side effects. Interferon is a p rotein naturally created by the body to stimulate immune function. A synesthetic version is created in order to combat the HIV infection. HIV does impair the function the body’s natural interferon cells, but at a large dose it may aid in suppressing the replication of the virus. Towards the end of this paper the treatment of HIV according to four different cultures will be discussed such as the