In a recent development, the researchers at the Indian Institute of Science have found that using Hydrogen Sulphide in the treatment of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus can show an effective result. It was observed that the Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) has a direct effect on reducing the rate at which the virus multiplies. This technique is called Combined Anti Retroviral Therapy (cART). The researchers also found that this therapy may fail in some cases and can show negative effects to such patients.
What is HIV?
- HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks those cells which help the body in fighting against infection. This makes a person more vulnerable to many other diseases and infections.
- It is spread through contact with bodily fluids of a person infected with HIV, most commonly through sharing injection drug equipment or during unprotected sex.
- HIV can lead to the disease AIDS if left untreated.
- There is no cure for HIV discovered till now, and the human body can’t get rid of HIV. Therefore, once you have HIV, you can’t get away with it.
- However, there are HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) which enable people with HIV to live a long and healthy life
- It was identified in the year 1981. Since then, HIV has been the cause of one of humanity’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics.
What is AIDS?
- AIDS( Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the aggravated stage of HIV that occurs when the virus severely damages the immune system of the infected person.
An HIV converts into AIDS in the following circumstances:
- The number of CD4 cells is less than 200 cells/mm3. (A healthy person has a CD4 count in the range of 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.)
- People with AIDS usually survive for about three years without HIV medicine. However, HIV medicine can help people, and it can prove to be lifesaving in the case of later stages of AIDS. Therefore, testing and early detection of HIV is very crucial as starting the ART in the initial stages can give fruitful results.
Symptoms:
•While some people with HIV do not show symptoms for months or even years after contracting the virus, most of the people may develop flu-like symptoms known as acute retroviral syndrome such as fever, joint pain, chills, muscle aches, sweats, particularly at night, enlarged glands, a red rash, tiredness weakness, unintentional weight loss.
HIV/AIDS in India:
•As per National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), in the year 2015, about 2.11 million people were infected from HIV/AIDS in India.
•India is home to the world’s third-largest population suffering from HIV/AIDS.
•India aims to end HIV/AIDS by 2030 and is a signatory of UN AIDS programme 90-90-90 strategy by 2020.