HIV – The Disease

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first identified in 1981 and has since spread in epidemic proportions throughout the world, with 40 million currently affected. In the early years, the diagnosis of AIDS was an automatic death sentence, and the scientific community embarked on aggressive research for a vaccine and a cure.

While these goals are still elusive, treatments have been devised that have resulted in HIV/AIDS becoming a treatable, chronic disease. Anti-viral drugs are taken in various combinations and according to a range of schedules, for the remainder of the patients' lives. This regime is called High Activity Antiretroviral Therapies (HAART.) Together with HAART, toxicity and compliance monitoring, nutrition supplementation, ongoing education and social support, and treatment of opportunistic infections round out a comprehensive management plan for the patient with HIV/AIDS.