Abstract

A CHALLENGE TOWARDS DEFEATING AIDS: A REVIEW

Varun Arora*, Monika Kadian, Kailash Sharma, Monu Yadav

ABSTRACT

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a pandemic disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that destroys so much of the body's defences that immune-cell counts fall to critical levels or lead to certain life-threatening infections. HIV is a member of the lentivirus genus, part of the Retroviridae (retrovirus) family. The objective of the present review is to give a brief knowledge about the prevalence, signs & symptoms, various stages of HIV infection, transmission mode, antiretroviral drug therapy and their side effects. Specifically, this review highlights the various aspects associated with AIDS like role of government towards HIV/AIDS treatment including HIV and AIDS education, various awareness programmes, funding, establishment of various counselling centres and also role of pharmaceutical companies towards this campaign. Therapeutic management of AIDS should follow the established guidelines for antiretroviral therapy, prevention and treatment of opportunistic complications of HIV infection.

Keywords: AIDS/HIV, Pathophysiology, Prevalence, Antiretroviral drugs.