The State of HIV and AIDS Treatment in 2019
In June 1981, a new virus was discovered that disproportionately affected gay men in Los Angeles. It quickly became an epidemic, spreading around the world. What followed was decades of fear, stigma, and ignorance regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can develop into the deadly acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The AIDS epidemic has led to 35 million deaths worldwide, and twice that many have acquired the virus since the 1980s, according to the World Health Organization.
In the early days of the AIDS epidemic, patient outcomes were grim, with many dying only weeks after diagnosis. Few treatment options were available, and patients taking the antiretroviral drugs of the time developed drug resistance fairly quickly, rendering the treatment ineffective. Just 30 years ago, the life expectancy for someone diagnosed with HIV was around 20 years.
AIDS treatment changed drastically beginning in 1995, with the introduction of protease inhibitors. This combination triple-drug therapy slowed the progression of the virus, resulting in a 60% drop in HIV-related deaths and illnesses in the following years. For the first time, AIDS became a manageable disease, but the stigma surrounding the virus remained.
To this day, ignorance and misconceptions regarding AIDS linger, despite advancements in treatments and efforts to curb the spread of the virus. The good news for the over 1 million U.S. citizens living with AIDS is that antiretroviral therapy continues to evolve, improving patient outcomes over the long term.
Misconceptions About HIV and AIDS
Despite more promising outlooks for AIDS patients, the virus remains a threat, continuing to spread — albeit not at the dramatic rate seen at the beginning of the epidemic. In his 2019 State of the Union, President Trump called for measures to end the epidemic within the U.S. in the next decade. His administration’s plan outlined steps that include early detection and diagnosis, and protecting people from infection.
Left out of the plan, however, was education. Americans remain ignorant of the ways in which the virus is spread, as well as the efficacy of available treatment options. In fact, a recent poll showed that only 42% of Americans are aware of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug that lowers the risk of infection. Further, the drug has only been prescribed to about 100,000 of the estimated 1 million people in high-risk populations who are eligible for PrEP.
For the Trump administration’s AIDS eradication plan to be truly effective, education is paramount. Developing an understanding about the ways in which the virus can be spread is vital to reducing AIDS transmission. AIDS is spread only via certain bodily fluids, and it cannot be contracted by regular contact with an infected individual, such as handshakes and hugs. People should also be more aware of treatment and prevention measures that help combat the virus, including antiretroviral therapy and PrEP.
HIV and AIDS: By the Numbers
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the majority of those contracting AIDS have been gay men and ethnic minorities. These populations continue to be most at risk. Gay and bisexual males made up 82% of all new AIDS diagnoses in 2015, and African-American men account for about 44% of all diagnoses nationwide.
There are many factors that come into play when it comes to high AIDS rates among minority groups. Many of these individuals live below the poverty line, which restricts access to quality care. Further, the social stigma that surrounds the LGBTQ community may lead to fewer individuals getting tested or treated, leaving them unaware of their HIV-positive status. About 15% of those with HIV or AIDS are undiagnosed, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC also reports that individuals between the ages of 25 and 34 accounted for about 13,433 of all new cases reported in 2017 — nearly twice as many as other age groups. With young people, gay men, and racial minorities continuing to make up the bulk of AIDS patients, education and prevention efforts should focus on these populations if the U.S. hopes to make headway in its plan to eradicate the virus.
AIDS Symptom Management
As AIDS compromises an individual’s immune system, the inherent danger of the virus is the body’s inability to fight infections. Many early AIDS victims succumbed not to the virus itself, but to unrelated infections and illnesses such as pneumonia. A weakened immune system leaves an individual vulnerable to a variety of conditions, and managing the symptoms that accompany those conditions is a part of life among those living with AIDS and HIV.
Chronic pain is often part of life following an AIDS diagnosis. This type of pain is defined as an ongoing condition that lasts for at least 3 months and interferes with an individual’s daily life. AIDS patients can manage their chronic pain in a number of ways, from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and engaging in physical therapy, to turning to alternative and holistic healing methods, such as CBD oil.
Many AIDS patients also experience gastrointestinal issues due to their vulnerability to infection, such as oral and esophageal lesions and diarrhea. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also be side effects of antiretroviral therapy. Gastrointestinal symptoms can be managed with calcium and zinc supplements and probiotics.
We’ve come a long way since the AIDS epidemic first made headlines. And while there is still work to be done in breaking down AIDS misconceptions and educating the population on AIDS treatment methods, those living with the condition have reason to hope. Various forms of symptom management options exist, and antiretroviral therapy can help suppress the virus and keep it from spreading. Today, an AIDS diagnosis is no longer a death sentence, and patients can live a long life thanks to advancements in medicine.
