For many years now, doctors have been trying to get close to a definite cure for human immunodeficiency virus, which is better known as HIV. With the World AIDS Day event drawing ever closer, people are starting to wonder as to what is currently the best course of treatment for HIV. The autoimmune virus remains incurable, but this does not mean that people who have contracted the virus cannot continue living their lives.
In a report by The South Coast Herald, despite the technological advances in the world of modern medicine, those who have contracted HIV will continue to have it for the rest of their lives. However, the most effective means of keeping the virus at bay is called antiretroviral therapy or "ART" which comes in the form of medicine. What ART does so well is to keep HIV carriers healthy, as well as minimizing the risk of passing on the disease to other people.
Now that it is common knowledge, people who have contracted HIV have to make sure to get treatment as quickly as possible, especially since it could worsen. It may cause long term and permanent damage to the immune system. As reported by PLOS Blogs, the problem of HIV is still a "prevalent" and "serious" one that threatens mostly low to middle income countries.
Despite the raised awareness as well as the advancements in the prevention and treatment of HIV, the estimated number of brand new HIV cases is at 1.8 million, with about 1 million people dying from AIDS just last year. Medical groups and movements across the world have been working hand-in-hand in an effort to stop or at least drastically reduce the epidemic.
Just recently, British singer, Sir Elton John was honored at the prestigious Harvard University for his contributions to fighting AIDS, according to Billboard. John received the Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award, and he later stated that to be the recipient of such was "both gratifying and tremendously humbling." Additionally, he was not just trying to aid medical efforts, but also has been attempting to eradicate the negative perception of the illness in society.
