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.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

40sec

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What are the symptoms of AIDS?

Individuals infected with HIV typically do not exhibit noticeable symptoms during the latency period. During the acute phase, however, symptoms such as rash, fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, and cough are likely to occur. During the active phase of AIDS, due to severe immune deficiency, a series of opportunistic infections and malignancies may occur. These can include persistent coughing, sputum production, diarrhea, weight loss, and unexplained fever. Treatment and diagnosis should be tailored to the specific circumstances, with diagnosis primarily made through testing for HIV antibodies.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng

Dermatology

32sec

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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 Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

37sec

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What is the late stage CD4 count for AIDS?

Generally speaking, in individuals infected with HIV, if the CD4 count falls below 200, it progresses to the AIDS phase. If the CD4 count falls below 50, it indicates the late stage of AIDS, during which the body's immune function is severely compromised. This makes it easy to contract various opportunistic infections, opportunistic tumors, as well as AIDS-related inflammatory syndrome, wasting syndrome, etc. Once AIDS is definitively diagnosed, it is necessary to start timely and scientifically sound anti-HIV treatments as soon as possible.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

43sec

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Treatment of AIDS

In fact, the treatment of AIDS requires systematic and standardized antiretroviral therapy. Once an HIV infection is confirmed, whether in the early stage, acute phase, or late stage, it is necessary to start antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible. Generally, this involves combining two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with either a protease inhibitor or an integrase inhibitor, or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It is crucial to take the medication long-term and consistently without discontinuation, as stopping the medication can easily lead to a relapse of the condition.

home-news-image

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

45sec

home-news-image

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.