Virology, Emerging Diseases & vaccines

Anti-Retroviral Therapy

Antiretroviral therapy refers to HIV treatment that uses a combination of two or more antiretroviral drugs. Antiretroviral therapy revolutionized HIV treatment upon its introduction in 1996. Antiretroviral therapy is an effective treatment for HIV. It does not cure the condition, but it can reduce the viral load to undetectable levels. This means that the virus is not transmittable through sexual activity and a person's immune system can recover. It usually takes around 3–6 months for the viral load to reach undetectable levels.fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition, it does not cure HIV. Lifelong adherence to ART is necessary to maintain viral suppression and prevent drug resistance, which can arise if therapy is interrupted or if there are insufficient drug levels. ART has significantly improved the prognosis for people with HIV, reducing the rates of opportunistic infections, preventing HIV-related complications, and increasing life expectancy. However, ART is not without challenges. Some patients experience side effects, such as gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, or metabolic changes, and adherence can be difficult due to the complexity of treatment regimens or socioeconomic barriers. Additionally, the emergence of drug-resistant HIV strains remains a concern, requiring careful management of ART regimens to ensure continued efficacy.