How is AIDS treated?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on May 06, 2025
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For the treatment of AIDS, antiretroviral therapy is required. It is important to diagnose and treat early, and patients should consistently adhere to treatment over the long term. Most patients can achieve relatively good results. If the virus levels remain undetectable over the long term, the immune system can recover to a normal state, and opportunistic infections will either not occur or previously occurred ones will gradually disappear. Standard antiretroviral therapy is critical, primarily involving a cocktail therapy that usually combines three different types of antiretroviral drugs.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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initial symptoms of AIDS

People infected with HIV may experience a series of symptoms in the early stages of the disease, about two to three weeks after being infected with the virus. At this time, due to the virus's rapid growth and reproduction in the body, symptoms such as viral viremia can occur, including rash, fever, sore throat, and swelling of lymph nodes throughout the body. These symptoms are reversible and can subside after one to two weeks. Many people infected with HIV may not show any symptoms. The diagnosis of HIV is mainly confirmed through tests such as HIV antibodies, and it is not possible to infer HIV infection based merely on external symptoms.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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AIDS transmission routes

According to the epidemiological survey on AIDS, the most common route of transmission is through sexual contact. Sexual transmission accounts for 90% of all routes of transmission, with the majority of female HIV infections being transmitted from males to females. Currently, 70%-80% of male HIV infections are contracted through homosexual activities. Apart from sexual transmission, infection can also occur through needlestick injuries, tattooing, intravenous drug use, eyebrow tattooing, ear piercing, and similar activities. Pregnant women with AIDS who do not undergo standard prevention may transmit the virus to their babies through mother-to-child transmission.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is AIDS a terminal illness?

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.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Can kissing transmit AIDS?

If it is deep kissing and the other person is HIV-positive, there is still a certain risk, but the overall risk is relatively low. Of course, the specific risk needs to be assessed based on the actual situation. If there is bleeding gums or oral diseases, then the risk will increase. If there is no bleeding gums, the risk may be even lower. HIV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, primarily through unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse, and can also be transmitted through blood and from mother to child.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Can AIDS be transmitted in just one exposure?

Regarding AIDS, it is generally difficult to contract, unless through transfusion. If blood containing the HIV virus is transfused, then the risk in one occurrence is about 90%-100%. Other methods, such as vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, needle stick injuries, and mother-to-child transmission, have a relatively low probability of infection per occurrence. The risk of typical vaginal intercourse is below 0.1% per occurrence, whereas the risk of anal intercourse is slightly higher, around 1%-3%. AIDS is mainly transmitted sexually.