Does HIV ALWAYS cause AIDS?

I understand that HIV causes AIDS, however, just because someone has HIV, does that mean that they will definitely get AIDS, or can the HIV be treated? Also, how long does it take to get full blown AIDS after contracting HIV?

No, HIV does not always cause AIDS. In order to be classified as having AIDS, one's cd4 levels have to fall below 200. A lot of this stuff has to do with white blood cells and one's lymphocytes, where a good portion of the bodies white blood cells are produced. As for how long does it take, it is different for every single person. There is no test that will tell you exactly when or around a certain time frame that one could develop full blown AIDS. HIV can be treated and with today's drugs there has been great improvement in slowing it down, compared to just 10 years ago. If someone drinks/smokes/does drugs, it's more than possible that they will be become sick and weaken their immune system. At the same time, there are people that do that sort of thing who are positive and hardly ever get sick. Again, it all has to do with a person's immune system and their own body. There are debates going around as well as to whether meds even help or do more harm. Personally, I think modern day drugs do help. They make one feel sick for a bit but I would rather have an upset stomach and then get used to it and have the disease under control.

It doesn't *always* cause AIDS, no, but it usually ends up resulting in it. The amount of time it takes varies though, as it can lie dormant for over a decade or so in some people, and not in others.

No HIV don't always cause AIDS.

i will tell u this all by my own experiences, as i can say, i'm a HIV positive, and i have lots of positive friends on positivesingles.com, i just live some 7yrs all right, i mean, since i was tested HIV+ till now, so my conclusion for this quesiton is, HIV not always cause AIDS, becz it cannot overpower somebody.