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Is there a cure for HIV/AIDS? Explain your answer.

2 Answers

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Final answer:

No, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but treatment with antiretroviral therapy can manage the disease. Researchers are seeking to eliminate hidden HIV reservoirs and develop a vaccine.

Step-by-step explanation:

There is currently no cure for HIV infection or AIDS. Highly active antiretroviral therapy, developed in 1995, has turned HIV from a fatal disease into a chronic condition for those who have access to these medications. These antiretroviral drugs work by reducing the viral load to undetectable levels and slowing down the disease's progression.

However, a hidden reservoir of the virus remains within the immune cells, and if treatment is halted, the virus will resurge. Researchers are actively working to find ways to eradicate these hidden viruses and potentially bring an end to AIDS. Additionally, there is no vaccine currently available for HIV, but efforts are being made to develop one.

User White Island
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2 votes

Final answer:

There is currently no cure for HIV infection or AIDS. Antiretroviral drugs can slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life for infected individuals.

Step-by-step explanation:

There is currently no cure for HIV infection or AIDS. However, the development of new antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV infections has changed HIV infections from a fatal to chronic disease. At present, treatment consists of a 'cocktail' of at least three antiretroviral drugs that slow the progression of the disease by keeping viral loads relatively low.

The goals of treatment are to decrease the risk of progression to AIDS and the risk of death. Another benefit of treatment is a decreased risk of transmission of the virus. Taking the drugs consistently allows HIV-infected people to live longer, healthier lives.

User Eli Sand
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