HIV-AIDS: An Unconquered Immune War

Abstract

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that has shaken the world affecting millions of people from all corners of the society. Syndrome involves the compromised state of the host defense system which results in impaired immunity leading to increased susceptibility of the host to opportunistic infections or predisposition to malignancies. The disease progression is monitored by CD4 cell counts and plasma virus loads in the blood of the infected patients. The disease progression in HIV infection is dependent on many factors, but most importantly, the disease progression depends upon how the viral factors and host factors interact with each other. Opportunistic infections (OIs) lead to increased mortality in the patients, and tuberculosis accounts for the most common OI. Early detection, diagnosis and appropriate treatment of OIs can slow down disease progression. The antiretroviral treatment leads to decrease in the viral loads and increase in the CD4 T lymphocyte count in the infected individuals. Strict adherence to treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of the patients infected with HIV.