Trends and Treatments of HIV and AIDS

According to UNICEF, it is projected that about 360,000 adolescents will die between 2018 and 2030 of AIDS-related diseases. Without additional investments in HIV testing, treatment, and prevention programs, that means 76 deaths per day. The number of people newly infected with HIV (age range 0-19) will reach 270,000 by the year 2030. Thanks to current trends and treatments of HIV and AIDS, the AIDS-related deaths will decline.

HIV and AIDS Trends

According to UNAID, in 2017, there were roughly 37 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS (1.8 million of these were children younger than 15.) That same year, about 1.8 million people became affected with the virus. About 75% of all people living with HIV were aware that they were infected, while the rest still need access to HIV testing.

Since the peak in 2004, when 1.9 million people died of AIDS-related causes, the number was reduced by more than 50% by 2017 (940,000 deaths). Most of the people living with HIV are in countries with low- and middle-income:

• Eastern and Southern Africa – 19.6 million people
• Central and Western Africa – 6.1 million people
• Asia and the Pacific – 5.2 million people
• Central and Western Europe and North America – 2.2 million people

Too many people still don’t have access to prevention, treatment, and care, despite the advances in prevention, treatment, and scientific understanding of HIV. There is still no cure, but antiretroviral drug treatment is effective in controlling the virus so affected people can lead healthy lives. The number of newly infected people has declined over the years, while the number of those in need of treatment in developing countries has increased dramatically over the past decade.

HIV Treatment

HIV is a retrovirus – a type of virus which inserts a DNA copy of its genome into the host cell to be able to replicate. Treatment of HIV involves taking medicines that help slow the progression of the virus. The combination of drugs used in HIV treatment is called ART (antiretroviral therapy) and recommended for anyone living with HIV.

Today’s HIV prevention methods include more than just condomization and abstinence. Male circumcision is greatly encouraged in uncircumcised adult males as it is believed to reduce the chances of HIV transmission. When it comes to mother-to-child virus transmission, aggressive prevention produces excellent results and is quite cost-effective.

Studies have shown that transmission from an HIV-positive person who is undergoing ART is greatly reduced because ART can lower genital secretions and viral load in the blood to an undetectable level. One should know that HIV medicines may cause different side effects in men and women.

Testing of couples is widely encouraged because the approach is thought to make a significant difference in terms of supporting the need to know one’s HIV status. It also helps open and responsible communication between couples about their sexual behavior.

Proper HIV treatment keeps infected individuals healthy and prevents illness. Taking medication daily as prescribed will keep an undetectable HIV viral load, putting people with HIV at no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to their partners (this is known as treatment as prevention). HIV treatment is most successful when people know what to expect and are committed to taking their medicines exactly as prescribed.

For dental assistants, it is vital to know the basics, such as universal precautions, basic oral anatomy, hepatitis B and AIDS prevention, and infection control. Dental Specialties Institute Inc. offers a Basics for the New Auxiliary program. Feel free to browse our website or contact us directly for more information.