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AIDS is a consequence of untreated HIV infection. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is an advanced impairment of the immune system. AIDS makes the body unable to defend itself against infections. The sick person also becomes more exposed to cancer. What are the symptoms of AIDS?

AIDSdevelops from unrecognized and / or untreated HIV infection, which occurs through contact with bodily secretions, tissues, or the blood of the host. The HIV virus, shortly after entering the body, goes into a latent state, in which it can remain for up to a decade, while at the same time compromising the immune system of the infected person.

After a latency period, the patient begins to catch opportunistic infections more and more often, which he is unable to combat. The likelihood of cancer also increases. The HIV virus impairs lymphocytes. In the advanced stage, when there are more and more infections, and their course becomes more and more severe, we are talking about AIDS. It is diagnosed when groups of diseases typical of immunodeficiency syndrome appear and / or when the number of CD4 + lymphocytes is less than 200 cells / microliter. What are the other symptoms of getting AIDS?

Symptoms of AIDS - opportunistic infections

Full-blown AIDS makes it easier for many pathogens to infect the body. Not every person with AIDS will have the same symptoms, diseases and cancers, but there are so-called indicator diseases that allow you to diagnose the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. These include opportunistic infections:

  • bacterial pneumonia that has occurred at least twice a year
  • pneumosystosis, which is pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jiroveci. Causes shortness of breath, dry cough, fever.
  • extrapulmonary histoplasmosis caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum
  • chronic bronchitis and / or esophagitis caused by herpes simplex viruses. Ulcers of the mucosa and skin appear. In people with AIDS, the infection can also spread to internal organs and cause encephalitis.
  • Cryptococcosis, another fungal infection that attacks the CNS, lungs and skin tissues
  • candidiasis or yeast infection (fungal infection) that affects the skin, mucous membranes, nails and the vagina.
  • tuberculosis, possiblyattack: pericardium, pleura, meninges, locomotor system (bones, joints, muscles). Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever and low-grade fever, body aches, cachexia and night sweats.
  • mycobacteriosis, which has symptoms similar to tuberculosis, but is not transmitted from person to person. Takes two forms. Generalized causes fever, weight loss, enlargement of the liver and lymph nodes. The pulmonary form is similar in course to tuberculosis.
  • recurrent samonellosis
  • isosporosis, caused by the protozoan Isospora beli and in people with AIDS, is one of the causes of chronic diarrhea
  • organ toxoplasma, which, after taking hold of the brain, causes disorders of the nervous system: convulsions, problems with coordination, impaired consciousness and mental disorders
  • cryptosporidiosis, which affects the gut and causes diarrhea, weight loss and dehydration
  • parenteral eel
  • cytomegaly, which is a deadly threat to people with AIDS and, if the person is pregnant, also to the fetus. Symptoms: visual impairment, shortness of breath, dry cough, inflammation of the esophagus, difficulty swallowing, enteritis: small and large. In advanced stages, CMV attacks the brain and can even lead to paralysis.
  • progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which attacks the brain and damages it permanently. The person experiences neurological disorders, including eye damage and even personality changes.

Symptoms of AIDS - cancer

In addition to opportunistic diseases, cancer is one of the indicators of AIDS. The following are especially characteristic:

  • Kaposi's sarcomas (progressive skin changes),
  • primary brain lymphomas (effusions in the pleural cavity, peritoneum, pericardium),
  • Burkitt's lymphomas (attacks lymph nodes, bone marrow)
  • and immunoblastic lymphomas (changes in the mouth and jaw).

Women may develop invasive cervical cancer. There are bleeding and pain in the pelvic area. Chronic infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) further increases the likelihood of its occurrence.

In addition, AIDS increases the chances of the emergence of other cancers, such as:

  • lung cancer,
  • hepatocellular carcinoma,
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma,
  • anal cancer,
  • melanoma,
  • kidney cancer,
  • leukemias,
  • head and neck tumors.

Symptoms of AIDS - Wasting Syndrome

Unfortunately, although the list of AIDS symptoms is long, not the ones listed aboveends. If untreated, people with AIDS can experience additional syndromes. One of them is wasting syndrome, which is characterized by inadvertent weight loss of more than 10%. It is caused by eating disorders and food absorption disorders, as well as by chronic diarrhea caused by some of the opportunistic infections in AIDS.

HIV-related neurocognitive disorders may also occur. The asymptomatic, mild and HIV-dementia complex are distinguished. They are independent of the number of opportunistic diseases. There are cognitive problems that, at an advanced stage, cause problems with memory, concentration, behavior and movement in people with AIDS.

Currently, thanks to the progress of science and medicine, the number of AIDS cases is decreasing. This is possible thanks to access to simple, anonymous and free HIV tests and extremely effective antiretroviral therapy.

Early detection of HIV and initiation of treatment prevents the development of immunodeficiency and even reverses some of the effects of infection. People suffering from AIDS who are under the therapy have a chance to partially rebuild the immune system, and thus they can avoid many opportunistic infections. Thanks to this, in recent years the comfort and life expectancy of them have increased significantly.

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