Researchers have found ways to increase the effectivity of HIV treatment. In a recent study, researchers successfully increased the rate of HIV treatment by 18 percent.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV )attacks the immune system. If left untreated, it will totally destroy the immune system of the patient. But if HIV is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be treated.
There is a newly developed program for patients with HIV to monitor their treatment and take the prescribed medication to control the spread of the virus. The program was designed by the team from Universities of Aberdeen, Maastricht and the University and Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam.
With the use of counseling, self-management strategies, and tracking the patient's medication using electronic pill bottles; researchers found that the rate of treatment increased 18 percent than patients receiving regular care only.
The program was designed for patients to have routine care with an addition 10 minutes counseling. The result proves that this program is indeed very successful because it improved the drug-adherence and reduced the treatment failure.
Although the HIV medication does not deliver cure of the illness, it can increase life expectancy. However, if the patient does not take the medication regularly, the virus will replicate again and will attack the immune system which may lead to AIDS.