Can a blood group fight off HIV?
DISCORDANCE is not related to blood groups and there is no particular blood group which protects people from being infected with HIV. <br>
Face HIV with Dr. Watiti
Dear Doctor,
Is it true that some blood groups are stronger than others and can protect some people from getting infected with HIV? I know a man whose wife died of HIV, but he is HIV-negative. He married another woman who was HIV-positive and her husband had died of HIV. The couple does not use condoms and they have two children.
Amina
Dear Amina,
DISCORDANCE is not related to blood groups and there is no particular blood group which protects people from being infected with HIV.
It is a fairly common phenomenon, though it is not easy to explain and it is still a subject of scientific research.
The fact that some people can esist being infected with HIV, despite being exposed to the virus over a long period, could be a possible clue to vaccine development.
However, what we know is that generally, people in discordant relationships are at a higher risk of developing HIV than the general population.
Such people are advised to use condoms correctly and consistently whenever they have sex instead of thinking they are immune to HIV. Otherwise, with time they could become infected with HIV.
People in sexual relationships should go for HIV tests with their sexual partners. They should not imagine they are of the same status as their partners.
Dear Doctor,
Is it true that some blood groups are stronger than others and can protect some people from getting infected with HIV? I know a man whose wife died of HIV, but he is HIV-negative. He married another woman who was HIV-positive and her husband had died of HIV. The couple does not use condoms and they have two children.
Amina
Dear Amina,
DISCORDANCE is not related to blood groups and there is no particular blood group which protects people from being infected with HIV.
It is a fairly common phenomenon, though it is not easy to explain and it is still a subject of scientific research.
The fact that some people can esist being infected with HIV, despite being exposed to the virus over a long period, could be a possible clue to vaccine development.
However, what we know is that generally, people in discordant relationships are at a higher risk of developing HIV than the general population.
Such people are advised to use condoms correctly and consistently whenever they have sex instead of thinking they are immune to HIV. Otherwise, with time they could become infected with HIV.
People in sexual relationships should go for HIV tests with their sexual partners. They should not imagine they are of the same status as their partners.