Question
How long can someone live with HIV?
2 January 2018. Related: All topics, Life expectancy.
How long can a man live with HIV if he was around 18 years old and was healthy when he was infected, both with and without medication?
Answer
Modern HIV drugs mean that life expectancy is now similar for HIV positive people to the general population.
This is based on being diagnosed early and having access to treatment.
The wide range of factors related to life expectancy include: where you live, your income, access to health care, lifestyle (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, exercise and diet) and other infections like hepatitis, genetics and chance – good or bad luck.
Several large studies have been published showing that life expectancy for HIV positive people is very good, and near to an HIV negative person.
Without treatment, HIV will slowly progress in nearly everyone. This speed that HIV progresses varies from a few years to more than 20 years.
Note: this answer was updated in January 2018 from a question posted in August 2008..
I started ARVs 3 weeks ago with a CD4 count of 467. I’ve not had any side effects, is this normal?
Hi Jsimine,
If you’ve been testing negative, then you will be negative. The only reason why you would need to test again is if you and your husband have had unprotected sex since your last test. However, if he’s on treatment then this is a form of protection. Please see the results of the PARTNER study:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
If you’re husband isn’t on treatment then you may be at risk. However, because his CD4 is below 200 he should be on meds. The reasons for why its important that he’s on meds are given here:
https://i-base.info/qa/3560
Hi,
My husband is positive with a CD4 of 163. I’m negative. I’ve already had blood test done three time in two months. They are always negative. Do I need to test again?
Hi Klipgal,
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve just been diagnosed. How are you doing?
As your 6 months pregnant its important that you start taking ARVs. These are drugs that are used to help control your HIV. Was this discussed yesterday? Taking ARVs will help you. They also reduce the risk of transmission to your baby.
Many women who find out that they are positive late in pregnancy, still have negative children. It is though, like I said important that you are on ARVs. For more information about HIV and pregnancy, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Good luck and if you need any more info, please do contact us.
I went to the clinic yesterday for my pregnancy of 6 months. I tested positive. What is the danger to my baby?
Hi Nunu,
How long you can live without taking ARVs will depend from person to person. If you are living with HIV, then it is important to take ARVs. It is the taking of ARVs that will help you live a near to normal life.
How long do live if you are not taking ARVs
Hi Ashok, there is definitely HIV treatment in Nepal. HAART and ART are the same thing. ART is the more modern way to refer to HIV treatemnt.
I am HIV positive male of 32 years from nepal. Is there Haart treatment available in nepal or only Art available?
Hi Babaj
HIV treatment needs to include three different drugs.
Tencitab includes two drugs – tenofovir plus emtricitabine. The other medicine includes three – the same two in Tencitab plus efavirenz.
You only need to take the clinic med with three drugs. Do not take Tenitab as well.
The side effects you are getting are linked to the efavirenz but should get better soon. Are you taking this medicine at night before you slepp?
See this link for more information.
http://i-base.info/guides/side/cns-side-effects
Please talk to your doctor about all these things.