There is NO cure for AIDS. Three months ago my thread in " Health Issues " section explained the challenge of HIV ( Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a " retrovirus"). It infects CD4 cells, part of our immune defence system. Usually HIV is transmitted by vaginal or anal sexual intercourse ( no condom ), or by other means such as blood in an infected needle / syringe.
Anti-retroviral drugs MUST be taken in combination, for LIFE. They act at different stages of HPV infection ( integrase inhibitors, for example , stop HPV integrating into cell DNA ).
There are no immediate signs / symptoms after integration. Many months or years later - if untreated - a range of infections ( including TB ) and cancers ( including lymphoma ) occur because the immune system is deficient.
* We now know that drug treatment prolonging lives of those infected with HIV can prevent transmission ( to uninfected partners, or from mothers to babies ). Drugs should be used not just for patients with AIDS symptoms, but also those who are infected with no symptoms. Problems with this are under-diagnosis, and the huge cost of lifelong multidrug treatment.
* There is evidence for circumcision reducing the risk of men acquiring HIV by around half. Protecting women by " microbicides " in infected semen is not ( yet ) effective.
* Behavioural change - less promiscuous sex, and use of condoms - is working in some countries but not others.
( Bile from gall bladders ( " Tuko "/ geckos, or any other species ) will NOT cure. It is misleading, and defies common sense, to suggest it will. )
* About 1 / 1000 persons with HIV controls the infection naturally and never develop AIDS. Antibodies have been identified which appear to neutralise HIV. There is the future possibility of developing antibodies for injection, or a vaccine. Global frequency of AIDS is falling and access to treatment is improving, surely more reasons to be cheerful about this dreadful disease
.
