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..
Hi Adtiya,
I’m sorry that you don’t feel able to tell your family that you have HIV. It is important that you speak to your doctor about the symptoms you are having.
I had a very close friend, was diagnosed on Dec 2010 with HIV positive. She was healthy and strong. It was recent when she was sent to hospital because of fever and found to have that virus. February 2011 he pass away. Why does she died too fast un-noticely.?Even her doesn’t know when it was started, because there is no symptoms at all
yes there reason bcoz i m told any body in the family about that i have hiv
no i dnt know ???? bcoz i m absoutely fit & fine except my brain problem
Hi Aditya,
I’m sorry but we are not doctors and we cannot diagnose your symptoms. It is difficult to say how long you can expect to live without starting treatment. Is there a reason why you are not on treatment? Do you know your CD4 count?
There is no problem with sharing a toilet and bathroom with your family.
i had ct scan last year there is no problem in my brain but i have problem with brain & eyes i had first attack unusual attack when i got hiv & second in brain 2011 august i m living with family & i used same toilet bathroom there will be any promlem with my family or not bcoz i m used bathrom & toilet & how many years live more ?????? i m from india
Hello Aditya,
It’s very important that you speak to a doctor about how you are feeling. HIV treatment is very effective and can allow you to live a long and healthy life. If you have been positive since 2005 and you are having problems with your brain and eyes its very important that you see a doctor as soon as you can.
hello this is my question yes i m hiv postive since 2005 & i m not took any treatement when i got hiv i have so many problems in my brain & eyes but my body absoutely so plz tell how i wll live ????????//
Sorry Aditya, it’s not clear what your question is. Are you HIV positive? Are you on HIV treatment?
hi i m adtiya i want know that i have hiv since 2005 so plz tell me what i do bcoz i m took any treatement since 2005