How to Treat HIV

HIV/AIDS is a viral infection affecting the immune system and is caused by the HIV virus.

HIV Symptoms
Some common HIV symptoms are fever, headache, lymph node enlargement, and skin rashes. Weight loss as an HIV symptom is prevalent in tuberculosis-affected people.

HIV Testing
If a person has HIV symptoms, he/she must go for HIV testing. HIV testing involves antibody estimation, ELISA for HIV, and Western Blot test.

HIV Drugs & Treatments
HIV treatments must be promptly administered to anyone diagnosed as HIV positive. These treatments slow down the course of the disease.
As per WHO, HIV treatments include use of at least three antiretroviral drugs to suppress the HIV virus. Various classes of drugs that are helpful in HIV treatment are non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, entry inhibitors, fusion inhibitors, CCR5 receptor antagonists, maturation inhibitors, etc.

The drugs bevirimat and vivecon are being investigated for their benefits in HIV treatment.

Alternative HIV treatments
These are sought for symptomatic relief and boosting the immune. Certain herbs like Tinospora cordifolia, Emblica officinalis, and Glycirrhiza glabra are effective in HIV treatment. These medications ease HIV symptoms and also enhance the immunity of the body. Similar benefits are achieved by Chinese cucumber, carrots (beta-carotene), and St John’s wort.