What type of virus is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that destroys cells in the body that help resist infection, making a person more susceptible to other infections and disorders. It is transmitted by contact with certain bodily fluids of an HIV-positive person, most often during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or without anti-HIV drugs to prevent or treat HIV) or by sharing equipment. drug injection.

HIV, if left untreated, can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

The human body cannot eliminate HIV and there is currently no viable cure for HIV. Thus, once infected with HIV, it is permanent.

However, by taking HIV medications (antiretroviral therapy, or ART), people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives while preventing the transmission of HIV to their sexual partners. In addition, there are effective strategies to prevent HIV transmission through sex or drug use, including pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (PEP).

AIDS is a chronic and life-threatening disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV affects your body's ability to fight infection and disease by damaging your immune system.

HIV is a sexually transmitted virus (STI). Additionally, it can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, illicit injection drug use, or sharing needles. Additionally, it can be transmitted from mother to child through pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Without medication, HIV can take years to damage your immune system in the face of AIDS.

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. However, medications can help control the infection and slow the progression of the disease. HIV antiviral drugs have dramatically reduced AIDS deaths worldwide, and international organizations are trying to expand access to prevention and treatment measures in resource-poor countries.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is classified into HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both of these factors can contribute to the development of AIDS. They are however somewhat different.

HIV-1 is the most common strain. When you hear the term "HIV", it most likely refers to HIV-1.

HIV-2 infects a significantly lower proportion of people, primarily in West Africa. It accounts for less than 0.01% of all HIV cases in the United States, and those who contract it come primarily from West Africa. It is more difficult to transfer HIV-2 from one person to another and it takes longer for the infection to develop into AIDS.

Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 contain many subtypes. These categories are subdivided into subgroups or strains.

HIV continually replicates. Some strains reproduce faster and spread more easily from person to person than others.

If your doctor knows the type of HIV you have, he will be able to treat you more effectively. A blood test can determine this. Also, the same test can determine whether or not certain anti-HIV drugs will work for you.

HIV-1 subgroups

HIV-1 is classified into four subtypes: one primary and three significantly smaller.

Group M (major)

This organization is directly responsible for the HIV epidemic. This group accounts for approximately 90% of all HIV-1 diagnoses.

There are nine strains in the group: A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, and K. Many of these strains have substrains. Researchers are constantly discovering new songs as they discover the M group of HIV-1.

In the United States, the most common strain of HIV is B. Worldwide, the most common strain of HIV is C.

Scientists have not done extensive research on strains other than B, so knowledge of others is limited. Antiretroviral drugs used to treat strain B are also effective against most others.

N, O and P groups

Near West Central Africa, particularly in Cameroon, small clusters of HIV-1 are rare. They are:

N (new group, not M or not O): This viral strain has been detected in a small number of people in Cameroon. Due to the rarity of this infection, researchers have not named any songs for it.

O (outlier group): This subgroup contains almost as many variants as the M subgroup. However, researchers have not discovered its different strains due to its rarity.

Group P: This is the most recent subgroup of HIV-1. It was given a unique nickname due to its difference from the M, N, and O strains.

Multi-strain infections

When the virus replicates, copies of the virus occasionally change (mutate) and evolve into another strain of HIV in your body. You may develop pressure that your HIV medications are not effective against. It increases your viral load, the amount of HIV in your body. In this case, you would need another form of treatment.

Also, if more than one person has infected you, you may have two or more strains. This is called a superinfection. Superinfection is extremely rare; It occurs in less than 4% of people. You are at increased risk of superinfection during the first three years after HIV infection.

Everyone's response to infection is unique. You may not notice any change in your symptoms or viral load with a new condition. However, it can exacerbate your HIV, especially if you have a strain that is ineffective against drugs; For more information, visit our website.