With an early diagnosis and proper treatment, thelife expectancyof a person with HIV is near that of someone without the virus.While an HIV diagnosis can raise many questions and fears, the outlook for people living with HIV has improved significantly over the past 30 years.

Getting prompt treatment for HIV results in a substantial improvement in prognosis. Since the year 2000, the number ofdeaths from HIVhas been steadily declining.

Left untreated, HIV will progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in most people. While death rates from AIDS have declined globally, the condition increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections—which can lead to death. And there is no cure for HIV, even with treatment. It is a chronic condition that requires lifelong disease management.

What Is AIDS?

HIV vs. AIDSHIV is a virus that attacks the body’s cells that help fight infection. When HIV is left untreated, the virus can progress to the advanced stage of HIV infection known as AIDS. AIDS occurs when HIV badly damages the body’s immune system and the body becomes more susceptible to certain infections. Most people in the United States who are being treated for HIV will not progress to AIDS.

HIV vs. AIDS

HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s cells that help fight infection. When HIV is left untreated, the virus can progress to the advanced stage of HIV infection known as AIDS. AIDS occurs when HIV badly damages the body’s immune system and the body becomes more susceptible to certain infections. Most people in the United States who are being treated for HIV will not progress to AIDS.

How Long Can You Live With HIV?

If you are being treated for HIV withantiretroviral therapy, you can expect to live nearly as long as someone without HIV. Starting and remaining on antiretroviral medications has been shown to decrease mortality and improve quality of life.

Maintaining quality healthcare is key to living a long, healthy life with HIV. If you have been diagnosed with HIV, but are not taking adequate treatment for the disease, it is recommended you seek medical care.

People who take HIV medicine can reach a viral load that’s undetectable. When the viral load drops below 40 copies/milliliter (mL), it can’t be detected with a blood test. Having alow viral loadis the best thing you can do to stay healthy and prevent transmitting the virus to others.

Across the world AIDS, deaths have declined with the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). In 2021, 75% of all people living with HIV were accessing treatment. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which are at the center of the epidemic, have mortality rates similar to patients receiving ART in North America.However, barriers to treatment still exist for people in many areas of the world.

Life expectancy for patients who are not receiving treatment drops significantly. Delaying or refusing treatment will allow HIV to continue to damage your immune system and put you at risk for an opportunistic infection that could be deadly.

What are Antiretroviral Medications?

Opportunistic Infections

An HIV treatment plan coordinated with your healthcare provider is critical to survival.

People who have HIV are more prone to opportunistic infections when:

How Long It Takes for HIV to Progress to AIDS

Stages of HIV

The HIV timeline has three stages of progression. When people with HIV do not receive treatment, they will typically progress through all of these phases. With treatment, progression to stage three is far less likely.

Stage 1: Acute HIV Infection

In the acute stage of HIV infection, you may have flu-like symptoms or experience no symptoms at all. During this stage, there is a large amount of HIV in the blood and you are very contagious.

Signs and Symptoms of Acute HIV Infection

Stage 2: Chronic HIV Infection

During the chronic HIV stage, HIV is active, but you may have no symptoms. You can still transmit the virus to others.

If you take HIV medication, you may remain in this stage indefinitely and never progress to the next phase. However, if you are not treated, this stage may last a decade or longer but could progress faster.

Stage 3: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Stage 3 (AIDS) is the most severe stage of HIV. In this stage, your immune system is quite damaged, and you are more prone to severe illnesses and recurring opportunistic infections.

Without treatment, the typical survival rate is three years. With treatment, many people can resume healthy lives.

Overcoming Obstacles in Living With HIV

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Katz I, Maughan-Brown B.Improved life expectancy of people living with HIV: who is left behind?The Lancet HIV. 2017;4(8):e324-e326. doi:10.1016/s2352-3018(17)30086-3World Health Organization.The Global Health Observatory: HIV.HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Newly diagnosed with HIV.UNAIDS.Global HIV & AIDS statistics — fact sheet.HIV.gov.HIV treatment overview.World Health Organization.HIV treatment for adults.Barbier F, Mer M, Szychowiak P, et al.Management of HIV-infected patients in the intensive care unit.Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(2):329-342. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05945-3HIVInfo.NIH.gov.What is an opportunistic infection?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HIV.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Katz I, Maughan-Brown B.Improved life expectancy of people living with HIV: who is left behind?The Lancet HIV. 2017;4(8):e324-e326. doi:10.1016/s2352-3018(17)30086-3World Health Organization.The Global Health Observatory: HIV.HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Newly diagnosed with HIV.UNAIDS.Global HIV & AIDS statistics — fact sheet.HIV.gov.HIV treatment overview.World Health Organization.HIV treatment for adults.Barbier F, Mer M, Szychowiak P, et al.Management of HIV-infected patients in the intensive care unit.Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(2):329-342. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05945-3HIVInfo.NIH.gov.What is an opportunistic infection?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HIV.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Katz I, Maughan-Brown B.Improved life expectancy of people living with HIV: who is left behind?The Lancet HIV. 2017;4(8):e324-e326. doi:10.1016/s2352-3018(17)30086-3World Health Organization.The Global Health Observatory: HIV.HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Newly diagnosed with HIV.UNAIDS.Global HIV & AIDS statistics — fact sheet.HIV.gov.HIV treatment overview.World Health Organization.HIV treatment for adults.Barbier F, Mer M, Szychowiak P, et al.Management of HIV-infected patients in the intensive care unit.Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(2):329-342. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05945-3HIVInfo.NIH.gov.What is an opportunistic infection?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HIV.

Katz I, Maughan-Brown B.Improved life expectancy of people living with HIV: who is left behind?The Lancet HIV. 2017;4(8):e324-e326. doi:10.1016/s2352-3018(17)30086-3

World Health Organization.The Global Health Observatory: HIV.

HIV.gov.What are HIV and AIDS?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Newly diagnosed with HIV.

UNAIDS.Global HIV & AIDS statistics — fact sheet.

HIV.gov.HIV treatment overview.

World Health Organization.HIV treatment for adults.

Barbier F, Mer M, Szychowiak P, et al.Management of HIV-infected patients in the intensive care unit.Intensive Care Med. 2020;46(2):329-342. doi:10.1007/s00134-020-05945-3

HIVInfo.NIH.gov.What is an opportunistic infection?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HIV.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?