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Treatment
The goals of HIV treatment include:
• Decreasing the amount of HIV in the blood or controlling the virus itself so it cannot destroy the immune system;
• Preventing the infections resulting from a weakened immune system caused by HIV; and
• Treating the problems caused by HIV.
There is no cure
Currently, there is no treatment that cures HIV infection, but drugs are available to help decrease and control the virus. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can keep HIV from replicating (making copies of itself) and causing more damage to the immune system; however, it does not cure HIV or AIDS.
In the developing world, antiretrovirals are not available to the majority of infected persons. But the tide is beginning to change and treatments are becoming available to HIV-infected children and their families.
Formulations to facilitate pediatric dosing of ART are lacking. There are no fixed-dosed combinations (FDCs) of triple therapy (a combination of three antiretroviral drugs) for children. Liquid medication is more expensive than adult pills, is bulky and costly, and may require refrigeration. But pediatric doses require the flexibility to give the right amount of medication based on weight. Formulations that can be administered safely, in appropriate doses for children, are greatly needed.
All information courtesy of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
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