A 41-year-old member asked:
Human immunodeficiency virus--can it mutate?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joel Gallantanswered
Infectious Disease 38 years experience
Yes: 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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed Dec 31, 2022
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What causes the human immunodeficiency virus?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joel Gallantanswered
Infectious Disease 38 years experience
HIV: 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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. J. Yusuf Erskine commented
Holistic Medicine 34 years experience
nice to see you on health tap Joel! Speaking at international AIDS conference in DC?
Jul 26, 2012
A 42-year-old member asked:
If a cure were to be discovered for human immunodeficiency virus, what would it do?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
HOPEFULLY GO AWAY: 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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
What symptoms are caused by the human immunodeficiency virus?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
Many and few.: 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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
How is the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) transmitted?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Charles Sturgisanswered
Pathology 31 years experience
Sharing body fluids: 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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Charles Sturgis commented
Pathology 31 years experience
Provided original answer
Sharing contaminated injection drug needles / syringes is another way to transmit HIV. Always use clean needles. Always used condoms with anal and vaginal sex.
Mar 7, 2014
A 36-year-old member asked:
How to know if I have hiv's (human immunodeficiency virus)?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Charles Sturgisanswered
Pathology 31 years experience
Get tested.: 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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Dec 31, 2022
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