Is AIDS a terminal illness?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on December 18, 2024
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AIDS is not a terminal disease. AIDS patients undergoing systematic and standardized long-term antiretroviral therapy can suppress the virus to undetectable levels over the long term, preventing damage to the immune system or allowing an already damaged immune system to gradually recover to a state close to normal. Long-term antiviral therapy can maintain the body's indicators at essentially normal levels, making it unlikely to experience opportunistic infections or opportunistic tumors, and it is possible to live a normal lifespan. It is crucial for AIDS patients to receive timely and correct treatment, including long-term antiviral therapy.

Other Voices

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Does blistering at the base of the tongue indicate AIDS?

It is unscientific and inaccurate to judge whether someone has HIV solely based on bubbles at the base of the tongue. To correctly determine if someone has HIV, we need to consider the medical history, whether there has been exposure to the HIV virus, whether screening tests have been conducted, and whether confirmatory tests have been carried out. Only by considering these factors can we accurately determine whether someone has HIV.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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How long does it take to know if you are infected with AIDS?

After being infected with the HIV virus, 50% to 70% of people will experience symptoms similar to a cold, such as fever, headache, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, occasional nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes, all occurring around half a month later. Of course, some people may not exhibit any symptoms at all. If symptoms do appear, they generally disappear within a month. At this time, it is necessary to conduct a screening test between the first and second month. If necessary, another screening test can be performed in the third month to determine whether there is an HIV infection.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Will touching AIDS-infected blood lead to transmission?

If the skin is intact, generally, contact with the blood of an HIV-infected person will not transmit the virus. However, if the skin is damaged and comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-infected person, there is a possibility of transmission. Additionally, the mucous membranes of the body, such as in the eyes, inside the mouth, and various cavities, can potentially get infected with HIV if they come into contact with HIV-infected blood. If these mucous membranes are damaged, the risk of HIV infection significantly increases.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Can two people who do not have AIDS get AIDS?

Two people who do not have HIV, when staying together or living together, cannot contract HIV. AIDS is definitely caused after being infected with the HIV virus. When discussing infectious diseases, there must be a source of infection and a mode of transmission. Therefore, if two people do not have HIV and are together, there is no source of infection, and thus the transmission of HIV is impossible.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Is AIDS scary?

AIDS, also known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, can be understood literally as a sexually transmitted disease characterized primarily by severe immune deficiency caused by HIV infection. Once it develops into AIDS, it ultimately leads to death due to various opportunistic infections and secondary tumors. It spreads very quickly and has a high mortality rate. Currently, there is no effective treatment, making it one of the main lethal infectious diseases in humans. Therefore, AIDS is currently considered terrifying.