Am I immune to the virus?
Jan 25, 2009
NO one has been scientifically proved to be immune to HIV. HIV discordance is a fairly common phenomenon, which is not easy to explain. What we know is that people who continue having unprotected sex with HIV-positive sexual partners eventually turn HIV-p
Face HIV with Dr. Watiti
Dear Doctor,
My wife tested HIV-positive about 10 years ago. I tested HIV-negative at the same time though we were having unproteced sex. We have since had four children who all look healthy. Recently, my wife became quite sick and when an HIV test was repeated, she was still positive. I tested and was found to be HIV-negative. Could I be immune to HIV?
Joshua
Dear Joshua,
NO one has been scientifically proved to be immune to HIV. HIV discordance is a fairly common phenomenon, which is not easy to explain. What we know is that people who continue having unprotected sex with HIV-positive sexual partners eventually turn HIV-positive.
In fact, the risk of catching HIV when you are in a discordant relationship is up to 10 times higher than the risk in the general population.
Many factors such as the natural immunity of the negative person, the viral load of the positive person, plus the virulence or how poisonous and quick acting the strain of virus involved is, influence the outcome of one’s exposure to HIV.
Consistently and correctly use condoms whenever you choose to have penetrative sex with your wife. The fact that she now has a low CD4 count means the amount of virus in her blood is very high and you stand a high risk of being infected.
So do not become complacent or fatalistic because with time you will become HIV positive. Lastly, your children should all be tested.
Dear Doctor,
My wife tested HIV-positive about 10 years ago. I tested HIV-negative at the same time though we were having unproteced sex. We have since had four children who all look healthy. Recently, my wife became quite sick and when an HIV test was repeated, she was still positive. I tested and was found to be HIV-negative. Could I be immune to HIV?
Joshua
Dear Joshua,
NO one has been scientifically proved to be immune to HIV. HIV discordance is a fairly common phenomenon, which is not easy to explain. What we know is that people who continue having unprotected sex with HIV-positive sexual partners eventually turn HIV-positive.
In fact, the risk of catching HIV when you are in a discordant relationship is up to 10 times higher than the risk in the general population.
Many factors such as the natural immunity of the negative person, the viral load of the positive person, plus the virulence or how poisonous and quick acting the strain of virus involved is, influence the outcome of one’s exposure to HIV.
Consistently and correctly use condoms whenever you choose to have penetrative sex with your wife. The fact that she now has a low CD4 count means the amount of virus in her blood is very high and you stand a high risk of being infected.
So do not become complacent or fatalistic because with time you will become HIV positive. Lastly, your children should all be tested.