Infectious Diseases and Rare Diseases

HIV & Aging

Earlier patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were expected to live for only 1-2 years. But with the introduction of modern scientific equipment and treatments such as antiretroviral therapy, people diagnosed with HIV in the earlier stages of their infection can keep the HIV virus suppressed and live a near about normal life. But there are also complications to be seen in patients living longer with HIV. Multiple chronic diseases, use of multiple medications, changes in structural and metal abilities and increased susceptibility to stressors are just a few examples of the long term effects of HIV on human body. Although the introduction of effective HIV treatments have decreased the chances of AIDS defining diseases among people, long standing HIV infected people are being affected with cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, certain types of cancers, HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders, and liver disease such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Chronic Inflammation can also be found in patients with long term HIV infection.