HIV – is always lethally dangerous?
HIV is not a death sentence — it’s an easily controlled chronic illness
The World Health Organization has categorized HIV as a chronic illness. Even if infected, you can live a long, fulfilling life by getting therapy regularly.
It can be lethal if you allow your organism to fully weaken and the infection develops to the AIDS stage. Even in such cases you can get your health back if you start therapy as soon as possible.
As with the majority of illnesses, there is a therapeutic treatment for HIV
For the time being, HIV can’t be entirely cured, but it can be managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART).
This comprises a combination of medicines that block the virus and prevent it from further development.
With therapy you can live a normal life
If a person regularly undergoes antiretroviral therapy and has an undetectable viral load (HIV isn’t identified by blood tests) then good health is guaranteed and the person can’t transmit HIV to his sexual partners. Yes — even if he or she has sex without a condom.
When taking antiretroviral medicines you can conceive and give birth to a healthy baby — the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby is minimal.
Knowing your HIV status is crucial for therapy in the early stages
Antiretroviral therapy achieves the best results if it’s begun as early as possible after infection.
You can only find out if a person has HIV by taking a test.
