AIDS
Write short note on AIDS.
Answer. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a severe immune deficiency which is characterized by profound impairment of the immune system arising from infection with HIV. It is accompanied by one of the following symptoms:
- Life-threatening opportunistic infection
- Persistent fever
- Unusual cancers
- Chronically swollen lymph nodes
- Weight loss and diarrhea
- Neurological disorders
Staging of AIDS Patients
As per the CDC surveillance case classification (1993) AIDS patients are grouped as:
- Category 1: More than or equal to 500 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3
- Category 2: 200 to 499 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3
- Category 3: Less than 200 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3.
Management Of AIDS
Current recommendation for treatment of HIV-infected patients include high active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which consists of three or more drugs:
- Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, e.g. Azidothymidine, Stavudine, Lamivudine and others
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors e.g. Viramune, nevirapine
- Protease inhibitors: Ritonavir, Indinavir.
In HAART, regime include atleast one protease inhibitor or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. As HAART is also known as drug cocktail or triple therapy.
Leave a Reply