HIV research continues to push for a cure or a vaccine to prevent uncontrollable repercussions of the deadliest epidemic in the world. Early treatment is recommended to help slow down the disease and reduce chances of transmitting it to others. However, some groups do not prefer medical intervention to get freedom from the virus.

Anti-Retroviral Therapy for HIV-Infected Infants

Early diagnosis of HIV among infants briefly gives a window of opportunity to slow down progression of the disease and delaying the need for long-term ART or anti-retroviral therapy. According to the new research published in The Lancet, the limited period of time after diagnosis benefits the patient of needing lifetime ART dependence.

"This important finding indicates we may be able to temporarily stop treatment and spare infants from some of the toxic effects of continuous ART for a while, if we can monitor them carefully. With ART coverage in children currently at just 28%, our findings highlight the urgency of increasing early (within the first 3 months of life) testing and treatment of HIV-infected infants," explained Professor Mark Cotton at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, as quoted by MedicalXpress.

Early ART during infancy can be beneficial and lifesaving, but the same treatment taken in for life can increase drug toxicity and increase chance of drug resistance of the virus.

God's Hands to Cure HIV

HIV drugs are considered a marvel and miracle of modern medicine which makes the life expectancy to nearly normal that before caused many deaths among young people. HIV medications are also much easier to take in 2013 compared to the versions back in 1980s and 1990s which require patients to take dozens of pills each day with legions of side effects.

However, some religious groups advise HIV patients to skip drugs and leave their path in the hands of God. BBC has been told by medical staff that a minority of pastors in England were endangering young church members by putting them under pressure to stop medication.

Healing is the central aspect of Pentecostalism, but this healing is in the form of a radical belief in the power of prayer and miracles. But one pastor denied such allegations of telling members to stop taking medication.

A survey from Children's HIV Association resulted to 10 out of 19 doctors who encountered the problem in the last 5 years and 29 of their patients had reported being pressured to stop taking HIV medications with 11 of them actually doing it.

- Pressured parents stopped their young children from taking HIV medications.

- Breastfeeding mothers refused to take HIV medications which would increase transmission of the virus to their babies.

- Some young people made their own decisions.

HIV Flashback, Ongoing and Visions

HIV is one of the world's most devastating diseases which killed millions of people around the world. But in the more advanced medical technology, HIV medications saved lives and prevented patients to get full-blown AIDS.

A. HIV Drugs of the Past

Retrovir is a drug prescription type of AZT or Azidothymidine approved back in 1987 and is the first one used for HIV. AZT has been proven to significantly reduce rates of certain AIDS-defining cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma and central nervous system lymphoma. However, long-term high dosage therapy of AZT causes side effects such as:

- Anaemia

- Cardiomyopathy

- Acid reflux

- Headaches

- Loss of appetite

B. Ongoing Research and Treatments
Dolutegravir, an FDA-approved drug, is a treatment of HIV infection. Studies show that it is effective in patients with resistance to the integrase inhibitor, Raltegravir. Tivicay or the marketed product is approved for use in a broad population of HIV-infected patients and can also be used for children ages 12 years old, weighing at least 40 kg. Common side effects are:

- Insomnia

- Headache

- Allergic reactions

- Abnormal liver functions to patients with hepatitis B and C

C. Future of HIV Medications

Investors search for the best biotech laboratory capable of producing HIV treatments an,d as of now, Gilead Sciences is the obvious choice. The company dominated HIV treatments in terms of combining older and newer treatments, and more potent ones. Tenofovir or Truvada is one of their products which is designed to treat HIV and also used as pre-exposure medication to the virus. Rare side effects include:

- Transient nausea

- Dizziness

- Loss of appetite

- Loose stools