#30 Could we cure HIV with lasers? (English)

Could we cure HIV with lasers?
[TED Talks Science and Medicine: 'Could we cure HIV with lasers?' by Patience Mthunzi]

HIV patients take in staggering numbers of pills to withstand the intense pain. However, compared to the number of pills swallowed, they are not effective. As the pills travel through many organs to reach the nerve system, the lungs and the lympth notes (where the virus is sleeping), they dilute. At the time, the pills dilute and lose its efficacy, the virus starts to spread more and to infect other cells (especially, the CD4 T-cell) in the blood.

The three headed device by Patience Mthunzi

The question is raised: could we treat HIV directly without the risk of the anti HIV drugs' dilution? Patience Mthunzi, laser scientist in South Africa, finds the answer with the the use of lasers. She strongly believes that lasers could be the most efficient type of treatment to cure the HIV. As of now, lasers are only used to poke or drill extremely tiny holes in HIV infected cells. In fact, Dr. Mthunzi is inventing a three heades device: the laser (first head) making an incision, the camera (second head) leading, and the drug sprinkler (third head) delievering the drug directly to the site of infection. When this technique is actualized, the complete eradication of HIV in the body will be realized.

People living with HIV

Several facts about HIV:

• HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) is found in blood and sexual fluids and spreads mainly through unprotected sexual contact and the sharing of hypodermic needles and equipment.
• When a person becomes infected with HIV, it damages his or her immune system, leading to immunodeficiency; the immune system can no longer fight off common germs and pathogens, so a person infected with HIV becomes ill from diseases that don't usually affect someone without HIV.
• HIV is one of the world's most significant public health challenges, particularly in low and middle income countries.
• An HIV-infected person may not have any symptoms of diease during the asymptomatic period.

[Reference]
TED Talks science and medicine, WHO, WebMD, CBC

KSJ