Search articles on Health Talk

hiv

Antiretroviral drugs are medication that are active against retroviruses. These days it is employed as a cocktail of drugs (HAART) in the treatment of HIV infection. Antiretrovirals are a sub-class of antiviral drugs.

How do antiretroviral drugs work?

The traditional antiretroviral drugs inhibit reverse transcriptase enzyme or protease enzyme. The reverse transcriptase enzyme is responsible for synthesis of DNA from the viral RNA and the protease enzyme is responsible for breaking down larger proteins to smaller functional proteins. Some drugs act by preventing the entry of the virus into human cell and some by preventing integration of viral DNA into the human DNA.

Continue reading

HIV/AIDS is an immune deficiency arising from HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)  infection. When infected, HIV starts destroying immune cells until the body’s immune capability is so severely depleted that it can no longer protect the body. This stage is known as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Other infections known as opportunistic infections are able to attack the host and cause death. These potentially deadly opportunistic infections can be as mild as the seasonal flu (influenza) or more severe infections like TB (tuberculosis) or meningitis.

Continue reading

500876_Affordable Health Insurance 300x250