Satish K. S1, K. Hanumanthayya2
INTRODUCTION:
AIDS was first recognized in the United States in the summer of 1981, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the unexplained occurrence of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in 5 previously healthy homosexual men in Los Angeles and Kaposi’s sarcoma with or without P jiroveci pneumonia in 26 previously healthy homosexual men in Los Angeles and New York.
The information flow related to HIV disease is enormous and continues to expand, and it has become almost impossible for the health care generalist to stay abreast of the literature.
Globally, AIDS is the leading cause of the death among people aged 15-59 years old in low income countries. Despite the remarkably rapid scientific advances that have been made in epidemiology, basic science and treatment, today, the HIV pandemic continues to represent one of the world’s most urgent public health challenges.
Currently several drugs are available for the treatment of HIV infection and with appropriate medicine it is possible to control the disease and prolong the life to a large extent. Combination of drugs like HAART regimen is used to improve efficacy and delay the development of resistance.
WHO recommends fixed dose combination to improve the compliance. Zidovudine or Tenofovir combined with lamivudine or emtricitabine form the first line drugs. If first line therapy fails, second line drugs are given.
