The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a dangerous phenomenon causing health-compromising conditions which lead to the weakening of one’s immune system and, in the worst-case scenario, death. As of now, it is not curable, but the means to alleviate its negative effects and partially treat patients exist. One of them is antiretroviral therapy (ART), which combines several medicines to enhance the weakened immune system and prevent the virus’s further transmissions. Those functions are extremely important to ensure the patient’s survival and give them hope, as the disease is still feared as a death sentence. This paper will highlight what the therapy does to the immune system, a certain group of diseases, and the virus’s transmission rate and how its use outweighs the negatives.
One of ART’s beneficial effects is restoring and maintaining the immune system, which becomes affected after contracting HIV. The therapy reinforces homeostasis, suppresses the presence of viruses in blood, and reduces several immune activation indices (Zanni et al., 2016). The shortcomings are in selective outcomes and negligible effects during short-term use (Zanni et al., 2016). However, the treatment’s progress is especially noticeable initially and long-term (Zanni et al., 2016). Moreover, an HIV-positive person is likely to continue it indefinitely, eventually covering other indices and combatting a wider range of diseases (Zanni et al., 2016). Thus, the therapy restores the immune system to some degree and maintains it in that condition, and the prolonged use will only enhance its effects.
ART is also responsible for preventing so-called opportunistic infections (OIs), which become particularly dangerous upon the virus’s activation, with a high rate of success. They include meningitis, tuberculosis, candidiasis, and others; the therapy manages to prevent about 95% of the cases within the first year (Low et al., 2016). The therapy’s length is also relevant to the outcomes of OIs, as its efficiency increases with more years of treatment (Low et al., 2016). The percentage may not be perfect, but, considering that the study centers on low- and middle-income countries, the outcomes in developed states would be improved due to better availability of all ART components. Overall, the therapy’s success at preventing OIs should not be overlooked, as it compensates for such HIV’s effect as the immune system’s weakening.
HIV-positive people tend to be stigmatized, and the diagnosis often poses as a life ban on having sexual relationships, but ART can alleviate the issue for both parties when initiated at the right time. The therapy substantially reduces the risk of contracting HIV for the uninfected and the transmission rate if used by a person who has it (Lundgren & Phillips, 2017). As in the case of the first point, the ART treatment should begin immediately after being diagnosed with HIV for timely results (Lundgren & Phillips, 2017). The drawback is that the time might be irrelevant for some people, not guaranteeing the anticipated outcome (Lundgren & Phillips, 2017). However, the failure could be caused by other factors, such as one’s sex, environment, or adherence to the treatment (Lundgren & Phillips, 2017). This function of ART is especially valuable due to the fact that it allows HIV-positive people to feel natural and loved, so the medical community should consider studying more demographic groups (Lundgren & Phillips, 2017). Altogether, ART prevents HIV transmission, especially when both parties use it, but it requires more attention given to other demographics.
In conclusion, in the age when HIV is still surrounded by myths and fears, ART presents a viable solution to some of its effects, which medical specialists should consider. It provides certain benefits for the weakened immune system, prevents many opportunistic infections, and allows HIV-positive people to continue leading a sexually active life. While the therapy still has gaps to be further studied, as of now, it significantly improves patients’ lives and gives them hope without a definite cure.
References
Low, A., Gavriilidis, G., Larke, N., B-Lajoie, M.-R., Drouin, O., Stover, J., Muhe, L., & Easterbrook, P. (2016). Incidence of opportunistic infections and the impact of antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected adults in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(12), 1595–1603. Web.
Lundgren, J., & Philips, A. (2017). Prevention of HIV transmission by antiretroviral therapy. The Lancet HIV, 5(3), 108–109. Web.
Zanni, M., Toribio, M., Robbins, G., Burdo, T., Lu, M., Ishai, A., Feldpausch, M., Martin, A., Melbourne, K., Triant, V., Suchindran, S., Lee, H., Hoffmann, U., Williams, K., Tawakol, A., & Grinspoon, S. (2016). Effects of antiretroviral therapy on immune function and arterial inflammation in treatment-naïve patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.JAMA Cardiology, 1(4), 474–480. Web.