How long might it take the body to develop antibodies to HIV after being infected?

Answer 1

There is no reliable way of telling how long it will take for an individual's HIV infection to develop into AIDS - this is because there are differences in the virulence of the different strains of HIV, as well as huge variations in the healthy baseline strength of the immune systems that our genetic makeup has blessed us with. The healthy immune system of some uninfected people is weaker than the level at which infected people are generally considered to need to start treatment in order to prevent AIDS from developing. If you are one of these people, you are at a risk of developing AIDS within a year or two of infection. There is also age to consider. As we grow older, our immune systems tend to grow weaker - so the older you are when you are infected, the quicker you are likely to develop AIDS. Another complicating factor is that AIDS isn't a specific illness for which there is a test; so, before arriving at a diagnosis of AIDS, a doctor look at a variety of symptoms and blood test results - they will will look for symptoms of one (or more) of the opportunistic infections or cancers and / or the presence of underlying immune deficiency. This means that an AIDS diagnosis can be made when you are still healthy - but at risk - or when you are already seriously ill. All we can really say is that, untreated, almost everyone who is HIV-positive will eventually develop AIDS and will die within five to ten years .. and that with timely treatment, most people will not get seriously ill and should expect to live a long and healthy life. Given that most of the current treatment guidelines recommend that treatment is commenced when the patient is still healthy - but not before significant damage has been done to the immune system - the following should give you a good idea of the huge variation in the speed at which HIV progresses: * Around thirty-three percent of patients will remain healthy for around ten years after infection, even without any sort of treatment or medical attention. * Around sixty percent of people will need to start treatment within four to five years of infection. * Between two and three percent will become ill more quickly and need treatment very shortly after infection .. and a similar number will not need treatment until they have been infected for between fifteen and twenty years. NOTE: There is currently a vigerous and healthy debate about when it is best to start treatment. Current guidelines are based on the fact that some of the treatments were - in the past - potentially quite unpleasant, debilitating and lifestyle limiting; but this is no longer the case and the body of medical opinion now seems to be swinging to a position of supporting commencement of treatment whilst the patient's immune function is still substantially intact.

Answer 2

you are not infected with the AIDS virus.. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Syndrome is a bunch of signs and symptoms (in this case its the signs and symptoms of VARIOUS illness, such as herpes, PCP, etc) People diagnosed with HIV (the actual virus) can be without symptoms for MANY years, and if they know they have HIV early on they can get on medication which slow the replication process down. the onset of AIDS is caused my the weakening of the immune system. Once your immune system can no longer fight off all the infections (which health people get on a regular basis and fight off) the person develops defining characteristics of AIDS.

** but as far as an INTERVAL of time there isn't one....it all depends on the persons immune system, and how well controlled the HIV is.

Answer 3

Unfortunately there are no reliable symptoms that point to a possiblity of HIV infection. Many symptoms that accompany HIV infection are easily missed or misdiagnosed.

The only way to know one's status to to be tested. There are many testing options available at area health departments and social service agencies. I would be happy to help you in finding resources in your area.

Answer 4

This depends on the type of test being used. 4th generation antigen/antibody testing can detect about 95% of infections after 4 weeks and a higher percentage after 8 weeks. Many healthcare systems still recommend 3 months to increase the percnetage of people accurately diagnosed, with a follow up test after 6 months to confirm a negative result. In a few cases it may take longer than 6 months to develop antibodies.

Answer 5

There are no antibodies against HIV, HIV cannot be cured or Vaccine, though it can be prevented by these ways: Use a Condom during sex, don't share needles, don't touch anything with other peoples blood on them. But HIV can't be cured or Vaccine, HIV causes the AIDS Virus (which also can't be cured or vaccines) but people living with HIV can be treat with medication, and this will help you live a normal life with HIV.

Answer 6

6 months to unknown period

Answer 7

Window period

Answer 8

1 year