How does reinfection affect me?
A. As you may already know there are several strains of HIV. In addition, when exposed to medications, HIV changes or mutates over time. If a person is reinfected with a strain of HIV that is different from the strains already present or if a mutated HIV type is introduced into the body through unsafe sex, treatment will be much more complex and potentially ineffective. For example, I am being treated for HIV and my medications are working well…my viral load is undetectable. Then I have unprotected sex with another person living with HIV and get reinfected with their strain…one that is resistant to most medications. Over time, that new strain will develop in my body, rendering my once successful treatment useless and causing my immune system to drop more rapidly. Re-infection can cause an accelerated decline from HIV to AIDS.
