Is it possible for someone infected with HIV 21 years ago to still not have AIDS???

My friend is HIV positive and the doctors told him he was infected from a blood transfusion when he was born as a premee. His viral load is pretty low, low enough for him not to be taking medication yet, but it is increasing. He has shown no symptoms. is he just a really rare case?

A person can have HIV infection for years鈥攅ven a decade or longer鈥攂efore developing AIDS. Before AIDS develops, many people feel well, although some develop a variety of nonspecific symptoms. These symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fatigue, recurring fever or diarrhea, anemia, and thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth).
People diagnosed with HIV infection have their blood tested regularly to measure the CD4+ count and viral load. CD4+ counts indicate the health of a person's immune system and, when low, their chances of becoming ill from an infection. Viral load is a predictor of how fast the CD4+ count is likely to drop over the next year. Doctors use these two measurements to decide when to start drugs for both the treatment of HIV and the prevention of the complicating infections. Doctors also use these tests to monitor the effects of treatment. With successful treatment, the viral load falls to low levels within weeks and the CD4+ count begins a long, slow recovery toward normal levels. AIDS is diagnosed when the CD4+ count falls below 200 cells per microliter of blood, there is extreme wasting, or certain opportunistic infections and cancers develop.

yup

yes

AIDS is a hoax...go to google video and watch - AIDS Hoax-Ten reasons HIV is not the cause of AIDS
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=ai...

Sure. Check out magic Johnson

No, he isn't. Being HIV positive does not mean that it will always turn into AIDS. I suggest that you follow his doctor's advice, and keep a watch on it, also read up on good information to stay informed.

Magic Johnson close

it is possible. They are some hiv infections that do not escalate. The test just show that the virus is present. In some people the virus stays latent. There are studies going on presently on why that is and if there is a way to use the latent virus to provide immunity for others.

He may also be infected with a mutated variation of HIV that will not grow to full-blow AIDS.

Just a note: The Primate version of HIV is SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus). Monkeys have a receptor that deactive the SIV virus so they don't get outbreaks or increased infection. Scientists are finding that some people have the same reaction with HIV whereas they have antigens that turn off the HIV virus, so that even though the viral load increases, it will have no affect on the person.

When some body is infected with HIV the progression of the disease to AIDS could have three forms.fast progressers will have a decline in CD4 count which is fast.(like >200/yr),slow progressers will have a decline in CD4 which is slow (like <50/yr),Those who are classical progress ers will have a decline which is average one (like 50-100/yr).your friend is a slow progresser.

HIV has 4 stages: a)Asymptomatic b)Latent c)Acquired immunodeficiency d)Full blown AIDS.
The progression from few or no symptoms to actually getting symptoms depends on something known as CD4 count in your body - which basically tells how your body will respond if it is attacked by infection causing agents. Lower CD4 counts means the 'viral load' is higher, and there is a faster progression of symptoms. Today, with the drugs available and appropriate management and care, HIV infected may not manifest AIDS for decades. Even without drugs, asymptomatic patients may go on an unfixed amount of time - in some symptoms may come as early as 6months, and a few - like your friend, not for decades. It is important, however, to get him treated and regularly followed up by his doctor so that he can continue to live an almost-normal life.

He an rare cases

hes what you call undetectable and right now the virus is moving so slow in his body that he doesnt need meds but its all up to the doctors when to start meds .....u can live along time with this virus...look at magic ....meds help stop the virus from making more copies of itself and it freezes the virus where it is so you're able to live along and productive life...i dont know why some people gets aids and some never do i guess it depends on the string of virus they get and how many times they get infected bc you can keep reinfecting yourself with this virus and it makes it much harder to control...but none the less tell your friend to keep doing what hes doing and not to worry bc theres meds out there that can help prolong his life and good luck to him...