Q and A

Question

How long can I live if I’m taking HIV treatment (ART)?

Can HIV kill when you have an undetectable viral load? I’m doing well on medication and how long can i live to the cure? Lastly, why cant I stop thinking about my HIV status – first thing in the morning and also just before I fall asleep?

Polio have been eradicated but why cant scientists do the same for HIV?

Answer

The quick answer is that with modern HIV drugs (called ART) your life expectancy is likely to be similar to if you were HIV negative. The earlier someone is diagnosed and start ART, the quicker any damage from HIV can be reversed.

For most people, HIV is easy to treat and easy to manage.  ART can give you a normal life expectancy and an excellent quality of life.

Hw long anyone will live depends on things you can change (smoking, exercise, medication) and thing you can’t (genetics and luck).  A study in Denmark (2005) estimated that the survival is more than 35 years for a young person diagnosed with HIV infection and another study in Canada (2003) report that in the US, life expectancy at age 20 years was an additional 58.3 years.

As long as your CD4 count stays above 200 cells/mm3, the risk of most HIV complications is pretty low. At higher CD4 levels – above 350, or 500, or 700 – the risk becomes lower still. Although some health problems are slightly higher in HIV positive people compared to HIV negative people, these risks are also often reduced by ART.

If you continue to take your medication as prescribed and do not miss or taking doses late, then the risk of HIV health problems in the future s very low. However, just as HIV negative people become ill, lifestyle changes to reduce these risks are important if you are HIV positive. For example, keeping mentally and physically active, eating a balanced diet, resting well, not smoking etc).

Having HIV might not always be easy though. The shock of being diagnosed sometimes takes a long time to come to terms with and at the moment you are still working on this. Already, I am sure you feel better than when you were first diagnosed and this will continue to become easier every year.

Most people worry about the impact of HIV on their life.  This could bewhy you think about your HIV status on a daily basis.  If this continues to be difficult perhaps get in touch with a local support group or ask about counselling. Talking about your HIV status can help you to deal with it and also through group support you can share experiences and also learn from one another.  You do not have to deal with it in isolation.

Finally, you asked about research into a cure. HIV is very complex in a way that is different to polio. Although currently there is no vaccine or cure, there is a lot of ongoing research.

HIV treatment is one of the successes of modern medicine. The breadth and expertise in scientific advances has not only developed 30 medications in five drug classes but this research has contributed to many other areas of medicine.

Even though curing HIV is difficult, there are lots of reasons to be optimistic.

This question was updated in January 2018 from an original answer posted in November 2011. (See: Question 10 at this link for more information).

547 comments

  1. Simon Collins

    HIV can only be diagnosed by taking an HIV test.

  2. amy

    What signs enable a person guess he is infected.and how long from infection day can symptoms be seen?

  3. Simon Collins

    Hi Bobby, it is a shock to find out you are positive, and contacting other positive people is a good idea. Also you are right to try and find out about HIV and treatment. HIV treatment is very good and means you can still lead a long and healthy life. You need to find a public health clinic that will give you more information and to get a CD4 count – and maybe viral load test. Treatment is also available. The link below include more information.
    I am sorry that we can’t publish your email and phone asking for help.
    http://i-base.info/just-found-out
    http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2015/november/20151110_RoK

  4. Bobby

    Hi … I am a Liberian living in Korea, who was diagnosed in September 2016. I did know in Liberia but just to go for a chest check up at the hospital in Korea, the doctor inform me that i am HIV positive. The doctor did tell anything nor proscribing any treatment for me. Please can anyone help me. I having to talk to anyone. Please can anyone help me cause the stigma of HIV positive people in this country is high… please i need help to live for the next five to ten yrs… Anyone out there can come to my rescue. Please i need counselling and drugs please any one out there can help me.

  5. Simon Collins

    Hi Misha, thanks for writing. The only way for you or you Mum to know whether you are HIV positive is to take a test. This is not something to be scared about. Treatment is now VERY good. Unless your mum is positive, you are very unlikely to be positive. Even if you mum is positive, you are still very likely to be negative. Perhaps you could both test at the same time to support each other. Please let me know if you have more questions.

  6. Misha

    Hello, I am Misha and I am 19 years. my mum finally had the courage to tell me why my father died 10 years ago and it was hiv. My mum has been hospitalised last week and she is scared to have the hiv. She was on treatment when she was pregnant with my younger brother who is 12 years so he did not get the virus. However she did not get tested because she was scared all these years. I am wondering if I could have hiv although I am 19 years and I am hardly I’ll or have fever I am still very scared and I want to know if hiv people without treatment can survive for 19 years
    Thank you

  7. Simon Collins

    Hi Ben. Your results are very good. Because your CD4 count was still above 300 when you started, you got a very quick response. The CD4 count should continue to still keep increases over the next few years though the increases will now be smaller. Everything is going well though. Please see this guide for more information.
    http://i-base.info/guides/starting

  8. Ben

    I’m 30 and diagnosed in January 2016 with a cd4 count of 316. I started treatment immediately through our local Government clinic and today 6 months later my cd4 count is 436. Is this a good sign or what increases can be expected every 6 months? Any comments will be appreciated. Yours truly , Ben

  9. Roy Trevelion

    Hi, How long anyone lives depends on things you can change (smoking, exercise, medication) and things you can’t (genetics and bad luck).

    However, many people test positive at your mom’s age and – once on treatment and undetectable – they can have a life expectancy similar to people who are not positive.

    Getting support and counselling from the clinic can also help you to support your mom. You can ask if they can provide these services.

  10. Oluwaseunfunmi

    My mom is 50 and she tested positive, my question is how long would she live

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