Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Dear Doc,
One of my friends have tested positive for HIV. He
doesn't have any signs or symptoms developed yet. He is
perfectly healthy at the moment.
1. What do you recommend for him to start with? There is also some sites in the Internet where a dissident group of scientists are challenging the whole gamut of HIV/AIDS progression and strongly vouschafes against taking any anti-HIV drugs. I am in fix since I want to help my friend out of this very very confusing situation.
2. Kindly give your opinion and how to start with medication if any required. Since we are located in India kindly let us know any leading Inidan expert who we can contact by e-mail or phone or by post.
3. Please give details of what new life saving/ life extending medicines available at present in the world.
Thanking you.
Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
It is wonderful that your friend has someone as involved and interested as you! Most medical practitioners do not believe the dissident's theories. We believe that HIV is clearly the cause of AIDS, and that control of the HIV infection is the most surefire way of preventing development of more serious disease. There is a huge literature on the subject-if you are interested in reading challenges to the dissidents' beliefs, check out www.projectinform.org. However, one of the things which is for sure in this epidemic is that you can find someone or something to back up almost any idea which you might latch onto.
As far as which medications to use, first of all, not everyone with HIV even needs medications. There are clear guidelines-although "clear" means still open to interpretation-which help guide doctors and patients in this decision. You can read the U.S. version of these (which are followed by many doctors around the world) at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/default_db2.asp?id=50
Once treatment is agreed upon, the specifics of which of the many medications depends upon many things-and the best thing one can do is to find a provider one can trust and who can help guide one through these sometimes difficult decisions.
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