Hope for STD: Medical Breakthroughs Part II

AIDS and HIV are the deadliest STD in the world, infecting millions every year. Those who have acquired these diseases are aware of the fact that a cure has not yet been found. But since no physical cure has been established, researchers turn to finding a cure for the mental side effects of the condition. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) observed that a large number of AIDS and HIV patients encounter stages of depression. As of 2006, the APA published a work on the treatments for depression of AIDS and HIV patients. Their findings showed that Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can improve the mental state of these patients, and prevent depression, as compared to placebo.

Herpes is an STD caused by a virus, and viral infections cannot be easily cured by medications. In this regard, research is not only focused on a way of eliminating the viruses, but for alleviating the side effects caused by the disease. One of the manifestations of severe herpes infections is keratitis, a condition of the eye. In 2007, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science conducted a study on herpes simplex keratitis in rabbits. They found that using acyclovir can alleviate the keratitis from the rabbits, which show a promising hope for application on humans.

Scientists and researchers continue on their quest to find the treatments that can save millions of lives. All we can do is wait and hope for more medical breakthroughs in battling STD’s.