Question

Why is it so difficult to treat HIV?

Answer

There are at least two reasons why HIV has been such a difficult medical challenge:

(1) It is a virus that expands and multiplies using the bodies immune system. The immune system works to tackle the virus, but the more it does this, the more HIV is able to replicate. Over time – usually many years – without treatment, the virus always comes out on top.

(2) The second challenge for HIV drugs and vaccines is that the virus has a very high turnover – billions of copies every day in a person who is not on treatment – and makes small errors or mutations which can lead to the easy development of drug resistance.

However, current treatments, if used properly, work very well, and can lead to long-term good health for many people, with few, if any, HIV-related complications.

22 comments

  1. Chris

    Thank you! I just couldn’t figure out how to simplify how HIV works.

  2. Ugiagbe rita esosa

    I am a college student,and this is indeed useful information.it help”s on my studies. Thanks alot

  3. Milz

    Thanks some great information, really helped

  4. peter

    Thanx. I was living in darkness.Now I’m in the light.

  5. Austin

    Great answer, really helped.

  6. shea

    thanx it really helped….

  7. Bothwell

    Thanks for a resourceful material,its works on my studies

  8. Mari

    I am a college HIT major and this is a HW question…Great info…Thanks!

  9. Svilen Konov

    You are very welcome. Good luck with the exam.

  10. Hannah.L

    Thanks, this is very useful for

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