HIV is a virus that attacks the white blood cells, so the immune system is gradually weakened over time. This makes the infected vulnerable to opertunistic diseases, such as infections and conditions that are usually harmless to people with a normal immune system. These diseases increase in incidence and severity as the number of white blood cells decreases and when the level of it becomes low enough, one will see complications that are so unique to AIDS that they are called AIDS-defining diseases.
Opertunistic diseases of HIV and AIDS
Common infections in HIV
Tuberculosis is one of the most common opertunistic infections in poor countries, and is considered to be the vanguiste cause of death in end-stage AIDS patients worldwide.
Cytomegalovirus is a subset of herpesvirus famli, and infects body fluids like saliva, blood, urine. semen and breast milk. It is a significant proportion of the communities that are infected with this virus, but in most people the virus will remain in an infactive phase where it does not pose any threat. When the immune system is weakened, like AIDS, the virus can be reactivated. Then the virus can attack the eyes, digestive system, lungs and other organs, and from there cause serious complications such as blindness and pneumonia.
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by soapart candidas albicans, which live in a controlled number around the body. This microbe is usually harmless, but it can become aggressive in the event of a long-term HIV disease. It will then cause inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, esophagus and vagina, which is characterized by a thick and white coating.
Cryptococcal meningitis is a form of meningitis caused by the fungal cryptococcus neoformans, and this is also relatively harmless microbe as commonly found in the soil. This condition occurs when the fungus attacks the membranes and the fluids surrounding the brain of an immune system.
Toxoplasmosis is a potentially fatal infection caused by the parasite Toxopasma gondi, which usually infects humans through the stool to outdoor treasures. This infection can cause serious complications such as blindness and encephalitis, if it infects a person with HIC or AIDS.
Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasite that attacks the immune system, and it usually transmits to a vulnerable person through unclean drinking water. These parasites grow into the intestines and galaxies of infected persons where they will cause severe chronic diarrhea.
Common cancers in people with HIV and AIDS
Kaposi’s sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates from the cell wall of blood vessels, and is caused by HHV-8 (human herpes virus type 8). This virus is usually in an inactive phase in healthy subjects, as the immune system is chessed, but in HIV-infected patients, the disease is very common. This form of cancer is usually seen as a pink, red or purple lesion in the skin or oral mucosa, but in dark-haired people the marks will be brown or black. Kaposi’s sarcoma can also cause complications in organs such as the intestines and lungs.
Lymphoma is a cancer that occurs in the white blood cells of the lymphatic system, and it debutes as a painless elastic rubbery lump in the lymph nodes around the neck, armpits or groin.
Other complications common to HIV
“Wasting syndrome” denotes a condition with a loss of at least 10 percent of body weight in a short period of time, and is often accompanied by diarrhea, chronic fatigue and fever. Fortunately, this complication is very rare, and this is most likely attributable to today’s effective treatment options.
Neurological complications are often seen in the form of confusion, memory loss, depression, anxiety and walking difficulties, although the HIV virus does not directly attack the nerve cells. One of the most common neurological conditions that is seen as long-term disease is the AIDS dementia complex, which gives behavioral changes and reduced cognitive function.
How do you prevent complications in HIV and AIDS?
A patient who is infected with HIV has very poor prognosis, reduced life expectancy and poor quality of life, but with effective treatment against HIV, this patient group can have life that is almost the same as people without HIV infection. It is also important that those infected take precautionary rules if they work in areas with high exposure to pathogenic microbes, such as schools or day care centers. They can do this by practicing good laundry routines, or by using mouth bites for disease outbreaks. It is also an advantage if the patient participates in disease prevention work, such as by encouraging individuals in risk groups to test themselves regularly with an HIV fastest.