How Long Can an HIV-Positive Person Live?
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Non-Progressors
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A minority of HIV positive individuals have an HIV infection that progresses at a very slow pace. These individuals are referred to as "non-progressers" and stay healthy in spite of their infection. They are essentially simply carriers of the virus.
Long-Term Diagnosis and Treatment
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HIV and AIDS were only first identified and diagnosed in 1981. Some individuals who were diagnosed at the beginning of the epidemic continue to thrive today, proving that a life expectancy of 20 to 30 years or longer isn't an unrealistic estimate.
Changes in Viewpoint
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HIV today is not longer considered to be a "death sentence" as it was in the early days of the epidemic. It is now being termed a chronic but manageable condition, much like diabetes, with infected individuals being given life span estimates similar to standard human life span.
Other STD's and Their Effect on Life Span
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HIV tends to be a co-infection with other illnesses, particularly Hepatitis B and C. It is more likely that a person will die battling another infection that is being complicated by HIV than a typical AIDS-related illness.
Common Causes of Death
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People with HIV today are more likely to die of other natural causes (such as heart disease or stroke) than from AIDS-defining opportunistic infections.
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