PEP for HIV Treatment in Delhi NCR
How PEP protect from HIV Virus?
Post-exposure
prophylaxis (PEP) is a preventive treatment aimed at reducing the risk of HIV
infection after potential exposure to the virus. PEP involves taking a
combination of antiretroviral medications for a specified duration, typically
28 days, following a possible exposure to HIV.
Here's how
PEP works to protect against HIV infection:
Inhibition
of Viral Replication: Antiretroviral medications used in PEP work by inhibiting
various stages of the HIV replication cycle. These medications interfere with
the virus's ability to replicate and spread within the body.
Reduction of
Viral Load: By initiating PEP as soon as possible after potential exposure to
HIV, the antiretroviral drugs aim to reduce the viral load in the body.
Lowering the viral load decreases the chances of the virus establishing a
widespread infection and helps to prevent the virus from establishing a
foothold in the body's immune system.
Boosting
Immune Response: By reducing the viral load and preventing widespread
infection, PEP helps to preserve the immune system's function. This allows the
body's immune system to mount a more effective defense against the virus,
potentially preventing HIV infection from taking hold.
Time
Sensitivity: PEP is most effective when initiated as soon as possible after
potential exposure to HIV, ideally within hours but no later than 72 hours (3
days) post-exposure. Starting PEP promptly maximizes its effectiveness in
preventing HIV infection.
Prevention
of HIV Integration: Antiretroviral drugs used in PEP can prevent the
integration of HIV's genetic material into the DNA of host cells. This
inhibition helps to prevent the virus from establishing long-term infection and
reduces the risk of HIV becoming a chronic condition.
Get the pep treatment in Delhi which is offered by Dr. Vinod Raina, HIV Specialist.
Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are
closely related but distinct medical conditions.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus):
HIV is a
virus that attacks the immune system, specifically targeting CD4 cells (also
known as T cells), which play a crucial role in coordinating the body's immune
response.
HIV is
transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids,
and breast milk. Common modes of transmission include unprotected sexual
intercourse, sharing contaminated needles or syringes, and from mother to child
during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
After HIV
enters the body, it replicates itself and progressively destroys CD4 cells. As
the number of CD4 cells declines, the immune system weakens, making the
individual more susceptible to infections and certain cancers.
HIV
infection progresses through various stages, typically starting with acute infection,
followed by clinical latency (asymptomatic stage), and eventually leading to
AIDS if left untreated.
AIDS
(Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome):
AIDS is the
final stage of HIV infection. It is characterized by severe damage to the
immune system, leaving the individual highly vulnerable to opportunistic
infections and diseases.
The term
"AIDS" is applied when HIV infection has advanced to a stage where
the individual's CD4 cell count falls below a certain threshold (typically
below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood) or when specific AIDS-defining
illnesses occur.
AIDS-defining
illnesses are opportunistic infections or cancers that occur in individuals
with weakened immune systems due to HIV. Examples include pneumocystis
pneumonia (PCP), Kaposi's sarcoma, tuberculosis, and cryptococcal meningitis,
among others.
Without
treatment, HIV infection progresses to AIDS over a span of several years.
However, with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), which suppresses HIV
replication and preserves immune function, the progression to AIDS can be
significantly delayed or even prevented.
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