AIDS Symptoms
The immune system is the body's defense mechanism against infections that can cause illness. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and weakens the immune system. As the HIV virus multiplies and spreads through the body, the immune system becomes unable to protect the body from infections. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and cancers that do not normally infect a person with a healthy immune system are then left unchallenged to cause illness.
HIV and AIDS can be differentiated by the phase and severity of the HIV infection. HIV is the infection that results from the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus in the body. HIV symptoms are caused by the body's response to the presence of the HIV infection. Many of these symptoms are nonspecific and often attributed to some other illness, such as the flu. AIDS is the illness that occurs as a result of the HIV infection. AIDS is diagnosed when opportunistic infections, infections that take advantage of a weakened immune system, cause illness in a person that has HIV. These illnesses are referred to as AIDS defining illnesses. Symptoms that occur as a result of these illnesses are AIDS symptoms.
AIDS has been defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as a positive HIV antibody test and at least one of the following: a CD4 lymphocyte count (the immune cells attacked by HIV) of 200 or less or development of an opportunistic infection.
A diagnosis of AIDS is accompanied by a severely impaired immune system that is easily overcome by opportunistic infections that cause AIDS defining illnesses. Symptoms that occur with these illnesses are AIDS symptoms. AIDS symptoms can include any of the symptoms experienced with HIV infection, but usually become more serious and can sometimes be life threatening.
Following, is a list of some of the common opportunistic infections that can cause AIDS symptoms:
It is important to note that the symptoms and illnesses relating to HIV and AIDS should not be used to diagnose HIV. These symptoms and illnesses can also occur in a person that does not have HIV. Only a positive HIV test can determine if a person is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
More on HIV & AIDS symptoms like Rashes, Swollen Lymph Nodes, Weight Loss or Night Sweats in our HIV Forum
HIV and AIDS can be differentiated by the phase and severity of the HIV infection. HIV is the infection that results from the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus in the body. HIV symptoms are caused by the body's response to the presence of the HIV infection. Many of these symptoms are nonspecific and often attributed to some other illness, such as the flu. AIDS is the illness that occurs as a result of the HIV infection. AIDS is diagnosed when opportunistic infections, infections that take advantage of a weakened immune system, cause illness in a person that has HIV. These illnesses are referred to as AIDS defining illnesses. Symptoms that occur as a result of these illnesses are AIDS symptoms.
AIDS has been defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as a positive HIV antibody test and at least one of the following: a CD4 lymphocyte count (the immune cells attacked by HIV) of 200 or less or development of an opportunistic infection.
A diagnosis of AIDS is accompanied by a severely impaired immune system that is easily overcome by opportunistic infections that cause AIDS defining illnesses. Symptoms that occur with these illnesses are AIDS symptoms. AIDS symptoms can include any of the symptoms experienced with HIV infection, but usually become more serious and can sometimes be life threatening.
Following, is a list of some of the common opportunistic infections that can cause AIDS symptoms:
- Kaposi's sarcoma- a cancer that causes lesions on the skin and mouth and can also affect internal organs, such as the lungs and intestines
- Red or purple lesions on the skin or mouth that can be painful and sometimes disfiguring
- Difficulty breathing
- Bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract
Kaposi's Sarcoma tumor - Tuberculosis (TB)- a bacterial infection that usually occurs in the lungs
- Chronic cough
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)- a bacteria that usually presents in the respiratory tract, but can, in severe cases, affect almost any internal organ
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Night sweats
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Bacterial pneumonia- a form of pneumonia that usually follows an upper respiratory tract infection
- Fever and chills
- Productive couch
- Chest pain
- Salmonellosis- a bacteria that is found in contaminated food or water
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Bacillary angiomatosis (BA)- an infection that causes purple or red patches on the skin, but can also cause disease in other parts of the body
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Genital warts
- Common warts
- Increased risk of developing cervical cancer
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV)- the virus that causes genital herpes
- Sores in the genital area
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Viral hepatitis- a virus that infects the liver
- Jaundice- a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)- a virus that can infect the retina
- Blind spots
- Blurred vision
- flashing lights or floating spots
- Blindness, if left untreated
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)- a serious infection of the brain
- Speech problems
- Loss of vision in one eye
- Numbness in one arm or leg
- Pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia (PCP)- a serious lung infection
- Chronic cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Toxoplasmosis- a life threatening parasitic infection usually contracted from cats or undercooked meats that can affect every organ in the body, but usually leads to a brain infection
- Disorientation
- Seizures
- Difficulty speaking and walking
- Coma
- headache
- Cryptosporidiosis- a parasite found in contaminated food and water that attacks the intestinal tract
- Chronic diarrhea
- Candidiasis- a fungal infection that affects mucous membranes
- Thrush, a thick, white coating on the tongue and esophagus
- Recurrent vaginal yeast infections
- Cryptococcal meningitis- an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord
- Headache
- High fever
- Stiff neck
- Sensitivity to light
- Lymphoma- cancer of the lymph nodes
- Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin
- Itchy skin
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Cervical cancer- cancer of the cervix that is often caused by the HPV virus
- Pelvic pain
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Neurological complications
- Confusion
- Depression
- Changes in behavior
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Wasting syndrome
- Unexplained loss of 10 percent of body weight
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Chronic weakness
It is important to note that the symptoms and illnesses relating to HIV and AIDS should not be used to diagnose HIV. These symptoms and illnesses can also occur in a person that does not have HIV. Only a positive HIV test can determine if a person is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
More on HIV & AIDS symptoms like Rashes, Swollen Lymph Nodes, Weight Loss or Night Sweats in our HIV Forum