Treatment

Scientists are trying to develop a cure for the AIDS virus. There are three parts to finding the cure. The three parts are:

1. To devise a drug that will kill the HIV once it enters the body.

2. To create a vaccine that would prevent the disease.

3. To educate people world wide about the dangers of AIDS and how to prevent the HIV infection.

In 1986, the first step was taken in AIDS prevention. AZT is a pill that has prolonged the lives of HIV infected patients. Ninety percent of patients who have taken the AZT pill are still alive after one year of being diagnosed. This is an increase of 50% without the pill.

There are some side effects of AZT. Some patients have developed a resistance to the drug after prolonged use.

Other drugs have also been tested in the past few years. These drugs have different side effects, but by switching medicines, a patient may not suffer from many of the side effects.

Medicines to fight AIDS need to be developed to kill the viruses, but not the cells that the viruses live in. Doctors are trying to develop the medicines and test them quickly enough to be available to AIDS patients. Many AIDS and HIV-infected patients are volunteering to test the medicines. These medicines are experimental and are still being tested, so they may or may not slow down spreading of the virus.