it can be different in all people, depending how long the hiv is dormant and how much of an effect it has on the body, but 5-20 is probably pretty close in the range for most people. A person is classified as having aids when the white "t" blood cell count falls below about 200.

Sorry, but in the seventies, hiv was not a known disease.

If left completely untreated, hiv will stay dormant for around 8-10 years, sometimes less. It is very rare that it will cause aids in anything less than five years. Certainly not months, unless another immunodeficiencyt problem exists. People in third world countries, with limited nutrition will not be able to sustain the virus untreated as long as people in affluent society. That's why the world sucks.

With treatment, time living with dormant hiv is extended, to an unknown length of time. Theoretically, a person today who contracts hiv and goes on appropriate meds could live a natural lifespan and never face aids. Cool huh?