Pharmacy & Pharmacology International Journal A Review on Prevention and Treatment of Aids Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Abbreviations: HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus; AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease; ART: Antiretroviral Therapy Introduction AIDS is considered one of the most dangerous and a pandemic [1] disease which is present over a large demographic area of the world. It has a great impact on society such as an illness, a source of discrimination and economic condition of people. AIDS is the most serious infectious disease and actively spreading worldwide among humankind. In worldwide women and girls are vulnerable to HIV infection. Generally young women become more susceptible to HIV at early stage in some areas the prevalence of infection among women between 15-24 years is more than twice that of young men. Women living in lower income countries are particularly at risk as extreme poverty and other structural factors such as gender [2] inequities, lack of education and violence reduce their ability to control health outcomes or access HIV related information and services. Human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of human immune system caused by infection with human immune deficiency virus. AIDS is called when a person infected with HIV has a CD4+ count of less than 200cells/µL or has an AIDS defining condition. During HIV infection the virus attacks and destroys the infection fighting CD4 cells of the body’s immune system. It is difficult for immune system to fight infections due to loss CD4 cells. HIV gradually destroys the immune system by attacking and killing CD4 cells. HIV uses the machinery of the CD4 cells to multiply (make copies of it) and spread throughout the body. During the initial infection a person may feel a brief period of influenza like illness. This is followed by a prolonged period without symptoms. As the illness progresses it interferes more and more with the immune system making the person much more likely to get infections including opportunistic infections and tumors. HIV is transmitted [3] primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse (including anal and even oral sex), contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids such as saliva and tears do not transmit HIV. Prevention of HIV infection primarily through safe sex and needle exchange programs is a key strategy to control the spread of disease and may lead to a near normal life expectancy. While antiretroviral treatment reduces the risk of death and complications from the disease these medications are expensive and may be associated with side effects. Due to HIV infection behavioral [4] interventions need to produce change in enough people for a sufficient time to impact transmission dynamics. Behavioral interventions targeting men who have sex with men sexually transmitted disease clinic patients, heterosexual African, Americans, sexually experienced adolescents in the United States and people living with HIV are effective in reducing self reported sexual risk behaviors [5,6]. Antiviral agents have made HIV/AIDS a more manageable disease in some industrialized nations and several vaccines are about to enter phase III clinical trials.HIV will doubtless continue to impose a terrible burden of morbidity and mortality. More importantly establishing the ground rules that underpin the evolution of HIV will lead to better vaccines [7] and antiviral agents. The present review gives idea about the origins of HIV, discovery of HIV, signs and symptoms, stages of HIV infections, transmission, diagnosis, prevention and management of AIDS. The origins of HIV The origin of HIV was the discovery [8] that closely related Volume 5 Issue 1 - 2017 1 Department of Pharmaceutics, Osmania University College of Technology, India 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality assurance, MNR College of Pharmacy, India 3 Mekelle University, Ethiopia 4 Department of pharmaceutics, Malla Reddy College of Pharmacy, India *Corresponding author: Chinmaya keshari sahoo, Department of Pharmaceutics, Osmania University College of Technology, India, Email: Received: November 18, 2016 | Published: February 08, 2017 Review Article Pharm Pharmacol Int J 2017, 5(1): 00108 Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) a condition where CD4+ cell count falls below 200 cells/µl and immune system begins to fail in humans leading to life threatening infections. Many factors are associated with the sexual transmission of HIV causing AIDS. HIV is transmitted by three main routes sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breast feeding (vertical transmission). Hence the efforts for prevention and control of HIV have to rely largely on sexually transmitted disease (STD) control measures and AIDS. In the developing countries both prevalence and incidence of AIDS are very high. The impact of AIDS on women’s health adversely affected by various reasons such as more susceptibility than men, asymptomatic nature of infection etc. The management of AIDS can be controlled by antiretroviral therapy, opportunistic infections and alternative medicine. In present study is an update on origins of HIV, stages of HIV infection, transmission, diagnosis, prevention and management of AIDS. Keywords: AIDS; HIV CD4+; Vertical transmission; Antiretroviral therapy