Question 1

Human immunodeficiency virus--can it mutate?

Accepted Answer

Hiv mutates in response to HIV therapy.  If you're being treated without a complete response (partial suppression), the virus can mutate so it can replicate in the presence of the drugs.  This usually happens in people who don't take their medications properly.  They can then transmit the mutant virus to others.  Spontaneous mutation (mutation independent of therapy) has not been a big problem.

Question 2

What causes the human immunodeficiency virus?

Accepted Answer

The obvious answer is that HIV causes it.  But perhaps you meant "how do you get it?"  you get HIV by having unsafe sex or by sharing needles/syringes by someone else who has it.

Question 3

How is the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Hiv is a sexually transmitted infection. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens the immune system to the point that the patient has aids.  There is no cure for hiv/aids, but there are medications that can dramatically slow the progression of the disease.

Question 4

How to know if i have hiv's (human immunodeficiency virus)?

Accepted Answer

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested for hiv.  Please visit with a clinic or doctor and have testing performed.  The clinic or doctor will explain the results and be able to answer questions.  To decrease risk, always use clean (single use) needles for injection drugs and always have 'safe' sex with a condom and spermicidal lubricant.  Be well.

Question 5

What symptoms are caused by the human immunodeficiency virus?

Accepted Answer

At the outset the patient infected may not even be aware of the presence of the virus, and this can persist until the immune system is badly damaged, and secondary infections or cancers occur (8-12 yrs).  Sometimes, acute HIV syndrome will present as a mononucleosis-type illness with multiple symptoms.  Best thing to do is get checked and tested if you feel you have been exposed.

Question 6

How is the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) transmitted easiest?

Accepted Answer

Tainted blood transfusions are the easiest way to become infected with hiv.  In the developed world, all blood is screened for HIV and blood transfusions are safe.  Other high risk activities include sharing needles for intravenous drug use with infected individuals and having unprotected receptive anal intercourse with an HIV infected person.

Question 7

How has human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) evolved since late 1970s?

Accepted Answer

The virus itself probably hasn't evolved much. What has evolved is our ability to treat it.  Resistance mutations occur, but this sort of evolution affects individuals and sometimes the people they infect.  It has not resulted in global evoluation of the virus.

Question 8

Can you tell me if i could possibly have hiv (human immunodeficiency virus) ?

Accepted Answer

Hiv can be transmitted via anal ; oral sex, blood transfusion, use of contaminated needles, breastfeeding ; during pregnancy ; delivery. Do you engage in behaviors that put you at risk?

Question 9

Explan why one human immunodeficiency virus test cannot definitely diagnose hiv?

Accepted Answer

The HIV test to which you refer is an ELISA assay which is quite sensitive but not as specific as the confirmatory western blot.  These measure the presence of antibodies to the HIV and these may take from 2 wks to several months to develop.  If you run the test before the antibodies have appeared, it will be negative, only to change to positive once antibody formation has occurred.

Question 10

If a cure were to be discovered for human immunodeficiency virus, what would it do?

Accepted Answer

Viruses are not cognitive creatures.  If we were to devise some means of eradicating the infection they would either mutate to a form which would again produce disease, or disappear or become a benign commensal.  Philosophically, it has been said that infections are a result of two biological beings coming in contact with each other and yet not finding full compatibility, which hopefully changes.

Human immunodeficiency virus