American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [623]
Over the past decade, however, researchers have developed several drugs that effectively treat HIV and the other infections and cancers it often produces. The drugs, called antiretroviral medications, slow the spread of HIV in the body and delay the onset of opportunistic infections by interfering with the virus’s ability to reproduce. The two main types of antiretroviral drugs are reverse transcriptase inhibitors (which block the enzyme reverse transcriptase that the virus needs to convert its RNA into DNA inside the host cell) and protease inhibitors (which block the enzyme protease that the virus needs to reproduce itself). The two classes of drugs are frequently combined to produce a more potent and effective drug regimen.
No currently available drugs can cure HIV infection—the virus has become resistant to all the drugs used so far. However, the medications can reduce the amount of virus circulating in the blood to nearly undetectable levels, and the drug combination has significantly lowered the number of deaths from AIDS. But as people with AIDS are living longer, they are developing other medical problems. Some people who have had AIDS for many years develop an abnormal fat distribution in their body, along with abnormalities in blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Also, all AIDS drugs have side effects, some of which can be serious. For example, some reverse transcriptase inhibitors deplete the number of red and white blood cells, inflame the pancreas, or cause painful nerve damage. Protease inhibitors can produce nausea and diarrhea and can interact adversely with other drugs. Anti-HIV drugs can also cause muscle deterioration, weak bones, heart failure, and swelling of the liver.
AIDS-related disorders
AIDS can cause a variety of opportunistic infections, cancers, and other diseases as it destroys a person’s immune system. In addition to the opportunistic conditions shown here, women with AIDS can develop recurring vaginal yeast infections and are at increased risk of cervical cancer.
A variety of new drugs to fight HIV infection and AIDS are under development, including medications that interfere with different stages of the life cycle of the virus. Vaccines against HIV are also under investigation.
Allergies
An allergy is an inappropriate or exaggerated physical response to a normally harmless substance (such as pollen) that, in most people, causes no symptoms. Allergies, also known as acquired sensitivities, occur on the second or subsequent exposures to specific substances.
To keep you healthy, your immune system normally recognizes and destroys invading microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, through a complicated process called the immune response. First, the immune system produces proteins called antibodies, which attach themselves to specialized cells called mast cells that are present in most body tissues. The antibodies and mast cells attack the invading microorganisms by bonding to antigens (proteins) on their surface. This bond stimulates the mast cells to release a number of strong chemicals. One of these chemicals, called histamine, irritates the surrounding tissue, causing the redness, swelling, and itching characteristic of inflammation. In people who have allergies, this process is triggered by harmless substances, such as mold or animal dander (tiny skin flakes), rather than by disease-causing microorganisms. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is referred to as an allergen.
You can have an allergic reaction to anything that you inhale or eat, or to something that comes in contact with your skin. You can also have an allergic reaction to medications or to wasp or bee venom.
If you think you may have an allergy, talk to your doctor, who will either treat you or refer you to an allergist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating