Once AIDS is diagnosed, it is recommended to treat it without delay, so there is no such thing as how long to go without treatment. AIDS is caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and goes through three broad clinical stages, namely the acute HIV infection stage, the asymptomatic HIV infection stage, and the AIDS stage. The earlier the treatment, the slower the development and the better the prognosis. Without treatment, acute HIV infection occurs 1-2 weeks after HIV infection and lasts for about 1 month; after that, it develops into asymptomatic HIV infection, which lasts for different periods of time, ranging from a few months to 20 years, with an average of 8-10 years; and continues to develop into AIDS, with an average survival period of 12-18 months. With early and aggressive treatment, some patients can survive for at least 30 years. Although there is no specific treatment for AIDS, early anti-HIV treatment after HIV infection can effectively control the progression of the disease and prolong the survival time, so it is not recommended to delay.