The Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a slowly replicating virus that is the cause for the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It works by attaching itself to T- cells (a type of white blood cells that participate in immunity) and uses them in its replication process. This lowers the T-cells count and when enough cells are destroyed so that the body can’t fight off infections, AIDS occurs. HIV is transmitted in a number of ways: through unprotected sexual intercourse; through blood transfusions or drug use (sharing needles with an HIV- positive person), or from HIV- positive mothers to their babies (including breastfeeding). The HIV can be transmitted through a number of bodily fluids, namely blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. As of 2012, there were around 36 million people infected with HIV worldwide, with 2.3 million contracting the virus and another 1.6 million dying from complications.

AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection but it does not mean that everyone who has HIV will progress to this stage. A person has AIDS when their T-cell count falls below a certain level, or they develop opportunistic infections, so called because of the advantage they take of that person’s deteriorated immune system. Those can include various types of cancer, i.e. anal, cervical, lymphoma; infections of the intestinal and respiratory tract, encephalopathy, tuberculosis and others. However, the risk of contracting any of these could be lowered with the help of a treatment called antiretroviral therapy, which aims at increasing the T-cell count to help fight the diseases. The length of time it takes for AIDS to develop in HIV- positive people varies with time, but usually it is around 10 to 15 years and shorter if no treatment is provided. The process can be slowed down by antiretroviral therapy, which decreases the viral load in a person’s blood. It is important for treatment to begin early on in the stage of infection to ensure the best results.

HIV treatment is costly and it proves a challenge for a lot of patients. Monthly expenditure ranges from around $2000 to $5000, most of which is on drugs. Estimated lifetime treatment amounts to half a million dollars, which comes as a burden on many people, especially the ones without insurance. An online store called  Medical offers a drug called Tenvir- EM, which is a generic Truvada at a lower cost. A monthly course of the medication would cost about $95. The drug is approved by the FDA and contains the exact same active ingredients as the brand name drug. It carries no other side effects apart from the ones outlined in the description of the generic medication.This is a huge breakthrough in the treatment of HIV and great news for those infected with the virus because now everyone can afford a life- saving therapy, which will enable HIV- positive people to lead a fulfilled life and plan ahead for their future.