AIDS is the final stage of HIV. Without treating HIV, the Mayo Clinic says that most patients develop AIDS within 10 years. At this point, your body is susceptible to a wide range of infections and cannot effectively fight them off. Medical intervention is necessary to treat infections or else death can occur. Without treatments, the CDC estimates the average survival rate to be three years once AIDS is diagnosed. Depending on the severity of infection, prognosis may be significantly shorter.
The key to surviving HIV and AIDS is to continue seeing your doctor for regular treatments. You should also schedule a visit as you experience new or worsening symptoms.