How long does it take to go from HIV infection to a diagnosis of AIDS?
There is no one answer to this question because everyone is different. Estimates of the average length of time for progression from HIV to AIDS are being developed. Before antiretroviral therapy became available in 1996, scientists estimated that AIDS would develop within 10 years in about half the people with HIV. Since 1996, new medical treatments have been developed that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with AIDS, though they cannot cure AIDS itself.

Various factors, including your genetic makeup, can influence the time between HIV infection and the development of AIDS.

What are the time frames between HIV infection and AIDS

Short infection times

• old age
• infection with more than one type of HIV
• poor nutrition
• severe stress

Long infection times

• closely adhering to your doctor’s recommendations
• eating healthy foods
• taking care of yourself

It is clear is that you can control the development of HIV infection.

How can I stay healthy longer?
There are many things you can do for yourself to stay healthy. Here are a few.

• Make sure you get advice from a health care provider who knows how to treat HIV.
• Begin treatment promptly
• Get immunizations (shots) to prevent infections such as pneumonia and flu.
• Practice safe sex to reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or another strain of HIV.
• If you smoke or use drugs not prescribed by your doctor, quit.
• Eat healthy foods. This will help keep you strong, keep your energy and weight up, and help your body protect itself. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep and rest.
• Take time to relax. Many people find that meditation or prayer, along with exercise and rest; help them cope with the stress of having HIV or AIDS.

 

What are some of the other diseases I could get?
Because HIV damages your immune system, you may have a higher chance of getting certain diseases, called opportunistic infections. That’s why it is so important to get tested and start treatment early. Many people may not know they have HIV until AIDS and an opportunistic infection develop. Many germs can cause opportunistic infections.

 

Examples of opportunistic infections:

• PCP-  Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
• MAC -Mycobacterium avium complex
• CMV- Cytomegalovirus
• TB-     Tuberculosis
• Toxo- Toxoplasmosis
• Crypto-         Cryptosporidiosis
• Hep C -          Hepatitis C
• HPV-  Human papilloma virus