A huge amount of ongoing research is being done to find a vaccine to prevent non-infected people from getting HIV if exposed, as well as finding better treatments and cures for those already infected. These symptoms go away, and most people have no idea they have this infection until they are diagnosed with a blood test or they develop an opportunistic infection or unusual cancer. The most common cancer associated with AIDS is called Kaposi's sarcoma. Many times, people first learn they have AIDS when they go to their doctor with one of the common opportunistic infections or Kaposi's sarcoma. Currently there is no cure for HIV infection.
Treatment is geared towards both controlling the virus and treating the opportunistic infections.
Many new and exciting anti-viral medications have had good success in slowing down the progression of HIV infection by preventing the virus from multiplying. Medications such as AZT, ddI, ddC, and the newer protease-inhibitors have gotten a lot of press since HIV was defined. Newer, less toxic, and better medications are continually being introduced and even more are on the way. Pregnant women who have HIV infection should be treated with medicine during their pregnancy AND at delivery as this has been clearly proven to markedly reduce the rate of transmitting the infection to the baby. Abstinence or correct condom use with a latex condom will prevent transmission of HIV from one person to the next.