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..
Hey? If I take my medication from age 18 and am able to stay healthy active and have a good diet, will I have a long life expectancy? I just took a rapid test and it diagnosed me with hiv but they have to do further tests. I’m praying that it was something else but I’m still very scared. Is there any help I could get? I don’t want to tell my mom until I’m sure of anything.
I’m only 30 years old and I’m HIV positive. I found out three months ago.I have being given ARV but still now I have not started medication. I’m healthy but I keep on reducing weight.Kindly advise me..
Hi Kevin,
There are many reasons why you could be losing weight, given that your diagnoses is new it may be due to stress. Without knowing more about you, I really can’t say.
With regards to the ARVs. If you want to control your HIV, you will need to take your medication. If you don’t your CD4 will drop and your viral load will rise. For more info about starting meds, please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
Hi Thando,
If you let me know where you live, I’ll see if I can find a support group for you.
Going throughout the posts usually help me when am feeling stressed and knowing that I am not the only one in this world
But i’d appreciate it if only I can get someone to talk to because they people I was relying on are now not talking to me anymore..
One counsellor’s wife thought i want his husband lol and I mean the husband is very old he was just helpeing me keep it together by telling me what i need to know aboyt the virus
And another one has went AWOL so i was wondering if it’s possible for you to refer me to someone?
Or if someone is not ashamed he/she can leave his/her e-mail address
Cause I feel like i am still ashamed and I need to talk to someone who’s on the same situation as Me
Hi Deepak,
Please see Q1 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Plz help,
I had unprotected sex with unknown girl.Only few seconds vaginal sex.After 12 days 2,3 rashes noticed on my chest.Feeling not well due to anxiaty and tension.What i can do in this situation.Plz help me
Hi Snowy,
ARVs in India are free. Therefore, you sister should be getting these for free. Her TB medication should also be free. Is she currently on medication for her HIV? If she is what is she taking? Do you know what her CD4 count is?
Is she attending a clinic at the moment? Does she have any other health problems?
I’m from south India my sis got infected from her husband n now he is no more n she is suffering from HIV n recently got TB positive …. My sis thought is very small n she don’t want to share to our relative …now here my family is facing that problem … We have financial problem so is there any help care for HIV patient We really need help to check up in good hospital …
Hi Sammy,
Because you’re pregnant its very important that you start ARVs and as soon as possible. If you don’t use ARVs you risk transmitting HIV to your baby. For more about this please see here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy