Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions


Where did HIV come from?

The earliest known case of infection with HIV-1 in a human was detected in a blood sample collected in 1959 from a man in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (How he became infected is not known.) Genetic analysis of this blood sample suggested that HIV-1 may have stemmed from a single virus in the late 1940s or early 1950s. A subspecies of chimpanzees native to west equatorial Africa had been identified as the original source of the virus. The researchers believe that HIV-1 was introduced into the human population when hunters became exposed to infected blood.


How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?

Currently, the average time between HIV infection and the appearance of signs that could lead to an AIDS diagnosis is 8-11 years. This time varies greatly from person to person and can depend on many factors including a person’s health status and behaviors. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. There are other treatments that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative health care.


What Are Co-infections?

Tuberculosis and hepatitis are two conditions that are very common in people who also have HIV. These are diseases that can have an effect on HIV and can also be affected by HIV. They are sometimes referred to as co-infections.

Hepatitis B and C are transmitted in similar ways to HIV: by contact with infected body fluids like blood, semen and vaginal fluid, and from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery. Both these types of hepatitis can cause serious liver damage, and liver disease is a major cause of serious illness and death in co-infected patients.

There is a vaccine against hepatitis B. It works well in people with HIV, and everyone who is HIV-positive should receive it.

There is no vaccine against hepatitis C. Hepatitis C can be cured with treatment which needs to be taken for up to a year. The best results are seen if treatment is provided soon after a person is infected with the virus.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is one of the most common AIDS-defining illnesses. In many cases, HIV was only diagnosed because people became ill with TB. Worldwide, TB is the leading cause of illness and death in people with HIV. TB is passed on through infected saliva from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.  Once infected, you may not have any symptoms of illness for a very long time.
TB causes fever, coughing, chest pain and weight loss. It mostly affects the lungs but can affect other parts of the body.
TB is treated with a combination of antibiotics, which is normally taken for six months. In some cases, it may be necessary for treatment to last longer.


What’s the connection between HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?

Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person’s risk of becoming infected with HIV, whether or not that STD causes lesions or breaks in the skin. If the STD infection causes irritation of the skin, breaks or sores may make it easier for HIV to enter the body during sexual contact. Even an STD that causes no breaks or sores can stimulate an immune response in the genital area that can make HIV transmission more likely.


Is there a cure of AIDS?

There is no cure for AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy  can slow down the HIV virus and slow down the damage to your immune system. Most people stay healthy as long as they continue ART. There is no way to “clear” HIV from the body.

Other drugs can prevent or treat opportunistic infections (OIs). In most cases, these drugs work very well. The newer, stronger ARVs have also helped reduce the rates of most OIs. A few OIs, however, are still very difficult to treat.

Antiretroviral drugs  keep the levels of HIV in the body at a low level, so that the immune system is able to recover and work effectively. Antiretroviral drugs enable many HIV positive people to live long and healthy lives.

Starting antiretroviral treatment  for HIV infection involves commitment - drugs have to be taken every day, and for the rest of a person's life. Adhering to HIV treatment is important, particularly because not doing so increases the risk of drug resistance . Side effects to the HIV drugs can make adherence difficult, and are sometimes very severe. There are ways of reducing the impact of these side effects, but sometimes it is necessary to change to an alternative HIV treatment regime.


REMEMBER: Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for maintaining your health. Take control of your health and your life.

SOURCE: CDC.GOV, AIDS.ORG