Are there long-term effects?

Over time, HIV-positive people may experience symptoms from the infection and side effects from their anti-HIV drugs. Sometimes it is not clear whether the virus or the medications are causing the problems.

One long-term effect that some people experience is a change in the way their bodies handle fats and sugars. For example, they may gain or lose a lot of fat in unusual areas of the body, or they may develop heart disease or diabetes.

Eventually, people may get sick with other infections or cancers because their weakened immune system can't protect the body anymore. They may reach the advanced stage of infection called AIDS.

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