AIDS Treatment Essentials: Key Facts and Nursing Care Plans

HIV spreads through the exchange of bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but medicine has specific measures to control the virus and stop it from transforming into AIDS. These treatments have saved many lives and reduced fatal outcomes worldwide. Efforts are still ongoing to make prevention and treatment available in countries with fewer resources.

AIDS Education in Medicine: Overview and Main Insights

To dig deeper into treatment AIDS in medicine, it is worth learning some main facts about this virus and its impact on medicine and society.

• AIDS is still a major public medicine issue worldwide, with an estimated 42.3 million lives lost so far. Its transmission continues around the
  globe.
• In 2023, about 39.9 million people were diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, and 65% of them were in the WHO African Region. The statistics note that around 630K people died from illnesses provoked by AIDS this year only.
• There is no cookie-cutter approach and a perfect medicine for AIDS healthcare and treatment. Still, with suitable prevention medicine measures, early diagnosis, and proper treatment, including care for other related infections, AIDS can be managed.
• Organizations like WHO, the Global Fund and UNAIDS have plans to meet the United Nations’ goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. By 2025, the aim is that 95% of people with AIDS will know their status, 95% will be on antiretroviral medicine therapy, and 95% of patients on treatment will have a controlled viral load. Such treatment will improve the patient’s health and reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Although an AIDS cure is impossible, a lot of approaches and strategies in medicine were developed to decrease the transmission of the virus and cope with its progress.

Causes of AIDS: How Does HIV Become AIDS?

HIV is caused by a virus. It spreads through unprotected contact with infected fluids, sharing needles, or using contaminated blood. It can also pass from a parent to a child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. A patient can be already infected with HIV but doesn’t have any symptoms. HIV attacks white blood cells called CD4 T cells, which help the body fight illness. When CD4 T cells drop, the immune system weakens.

With years and without proper treatment, AIDS can develop, causing symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, cough, etc. In this case, everything depends on the patient’s immune system and complications. In medicine, the nursing diagnosis for HIV/AIDS is developing by providing a blood test to see whether the CD4 T cell count falls below 200. It indicates immune system damage and progression to AIDS. Regular testing and early diagnosis are crucial to managing HIV, elaborating on a treatment plan, and preventing its progression to AIDS.

Understanding Nursing Diagnosis for HIV/AIDS: Strategies in Medicine

Making a nursing diagnosis for AIDS is vital for further treatment and avoiding severe conditions. With the advent of medicine, it can be diagnosed quickly with rapid tests that give same-day results. This makes it easier to catch the virus early and start treatment or prevention. Healthcare professionals recommend using these tests for a nursing diagnosis of HIV and AIDS.

• Antigen-antibody tests
• Antibody tests
• Nucleic acid tests (NATs)
• CD4 T cell count
• Viral load, also called HIV RNA

Most treatment AIDS tests check for antibodies the body makes to fight the virus. These antibodies usually appear about 28 days after infection. If someone has been at high risk recently and tests are negative, they should retest after 28 days and start treatment if needed.

Once a person gets an AIDS nursing diagnosis, they should be tested again before starting treatment to avoid any medical errors. Testing is straightforward for adults and teens but more complicated for babies born to HIV-positive mothers. Babies under 18 months need virological testing at birth or around six weeks. New technology in medicine allows this testing to be done quickly, precisely, and effectively.

AIDS Nursing Care Plan: Supporting Patient Health

As soon as a patient is diagnosed, a healthcare provider should develop an AIDS nursing care plan. It is crucial to support the health with medicines of those who suffer from AIDS and to avoid acute medical conditions and significant disorders that can lead to fatal cases.

When it comes to treatment, the effectiveness of HAART in HIV/AIDS management is considered to be the most proven method. It implies taking a combination of medicines to control the negative effects of the virus on the immune system. This treatment helps many people with AIDS live long and healthy lives. However, doctors recommend starting as soon as possible to get the best results.

Although ART treatment can manage HIV, it is impossible to fully recover. People must continue taking their medicines and get additional treatment daily for the rest of their lives. The main challenge with ART is ensuring people have access to it, especially in less developed countries. Not everyone has the necessary healthcare or support to stay on treatment long-term or buy medicines.

Anyone diagnosed with AIDS should undergo treatment, no matter what stage the condition is or what complications exist. Doctors usually prescribe a combination of two or more medicines from different classes. This gives the best chance of reducing the amount of HIV in the blood. Some options combine several medicines into one pill, taken once a day.

Each type of medicine works differently to stop the virus and ensure efficient treatment. Mixing medicines from different classes helps to:

• Deal with medicine resistance, also known as viral genotype.
• Prevent the virus from becoming resistant to treatment.
• Lower the amount of virus in the blood as much as possible.

The FDA approved HIV medicines include:

• Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
• Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
• Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
• Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs)
• Entry Inhibitors

Elaborating on an effective AIDS medicine treatment is vital, but the conditions of a particular patient when prescribing medicines and developing the treatment strategy should be taken into account.

AIDS Precautions Nursing: Treatment & Prevention Measures in Medicine

There are a lot of AIDS precautions nursing rules in medicine that help prevent the disease and the negative consequences it may cause. By following these rules, it is possible to reduce the risk of getting the virus and fight with its outcome.

• Using protective measures during physical interaction and getting tested for HIV and STIs are some ways to reduce the risk of getting infected.
• People who inject or use drugs are more vulnerable to this virus, so it is a point to take into consideration.
• Avoiding touching needles elsewhere is also a must. If a person believes they have been exposed to HIV, they should reach out to a healthcare provider right away.

Doctors might recommend medicines and devices for AIDS prevention, such as:

• Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), including oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-acting products
• Dapivirine vaginal rings and other protective medicines
• Injectable cabotegravir

ARV treatment can also help prevent mothers from passing HIV to their children and developing AIDS in the long run.

Treatment for AIDS: Effectiveness and Challenges

Another question that should be considered in a nursing care plan and treatment is, “What is the priority intervention for a nurse caring for a client with wasting syndrome from aids?” Here are some proven methods in medicine to apply.

• Monitoring weight and food intake regularly
• Developing a personalized nutrition plan
• Managing symptoms like nausea or diarrhea that may interfere with eating
• Providing a high-calorie, high-protein diet to prevent weight loss
• Encouraging small, frequent meals and supplements to meet a patient’s individual needs
• Checking the proper medicines intake for an efficient treatment

There are also complications in the treatment of AIDS related to the attitude toward infected people in society. People with HIV/AIDS often face discrimination, which can affect their mental and physical health. Despite this, it is still possible to maintain a good quality of life with proper treatment and support. Prevention measures, regular checkups, an appropriate nursing treatment plan, and taking medicines can significantly improve patient’s lives and support their health.