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HIV/AIDS

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• Treatment

For many years since the first case of AIDS was recognised in 1981, there was no known treatment for AIDS. Doctors were able to treat AIDS-related illnesses such as infections but there was no specific treatment for HIV or AIDS. There is no cure for HIV but effective treatments are now available to control the virus. The drugs used to treat HIV are known as antiretrovirals. They are given in combination, called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). Because the virus multiplies so rapidly it can mutate and become resistant to therapy. For this reason it is important that antiretroviral drugs are taken regularly to minimise the risk of resistance developing.

Testing for HIV/AIDS
The HIV antibody test is a blood test which shows whether a person has antibodies to the virus present. The presence of antibodies will confirm that the patient has been infected with HIV. A positive HIV antibody test does not mean that the patient has AIDS.