AIDS-related illnesses are often found in patients with HIV-positive status. Some pathologies are found only in patients with AIDS and allow you to establish a diagnosis without the need for additional studies (first category), others can accompany a person’s immunodeficiency state, but they occur in healthy people (second category). AIDS-related diseases include some oncological diseases (Kaposi’s sarcoma, invasive cancer of the uterus, brain lymphoma), candidiasis of the esophagus and respiratory system, cytomegalovirus lesions of internal organs, ulcerative lesions of the skin and mucous membranes, HIV dystrophy, and so on.
AIDS Candidiasis
Candidiasis of the oral cavity is one of the first signs of human immunodeficiency , caused by conditionally pathogenic bacteria of the genus Candida. Thrush may occur (white plaques can be easily removed, can be localized anywhere on the mucosa), atrophic candidiasis (on the hard palate, back of the tongue and mucosa of the cheeks, easily distinguishable areas without plaque with a smooth surface are usually formed), angular (seizures in the corners of the mouth), hyperplastic (plaque connected to the deep tissues of the cavity). Among AIDS-indicative diseases, HIV-positive patients often suffer from damage to the stomach and respiratory tract.
In HIV / AIDS, common intestinal infections can cause enterocolitis or enteritis. Salmonellosis is much more severe in HIV-positive patients. Typical symptoms: fever, weight loss, anorexia, increased sweating, frequent fatigue, the formation of abscesses of the brain and membranes, lungs, urinary tract, colon. The infection is prone to recurrence even with intensive antibiotic therapy.
Ulcerative lesions on the skin and mucous membranes
AIDS-related diseases such as skin and mucous membrane lesions are reported in approximately 90% of patients at different stages of the disease. Some types of diseases can be diagnosed in HIV-negative patients (for example, seborrheic dermatitis), while others are only manifestations of HIV. One patient may have two or more lesions simultaneously.
As a rule, genital herpes and genital warts occur. Seborrheic dermatitis, candidiasis, leukoplakia, shingles may occur. Cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis sometimes develop. Some lesions are chronic. In HIV-positive patients, dermatological diseases are prone to recurrent course and extensive spread. This requires a correct and modern diagnosis, as well as adequate treatment.
Oncological diseases
Some oncological diseases are AIDS-indicative, determining, that is, their presence is a direct sign of the development of a person's human immunodeficiency syndrome. These are Kaposi’s sarcoma, invasive cervical cancer, CNS or brain lymphoma. HIV-infected people are more likely to develop cancer of the lungs, oral cavity, testicles, skin, anal canal, Hodgkin's disease, and malignant myoma. AIDS-indicative diseases, these pathologies are only when they occur in HIV-positive patients.
Kaposi's AIDS Associated Sarcoma
Kaposi's sarcoma is an AIDS-related indicator disease, which is considered to be such in HIV-positive patients under the age of 60 years. This is, in general, a rare disease that affects mainly older men living on the Mediterranean coast, young people from Africa and patients who have had a transplant. The number of people with Kaposi’s sarcoma increased significantly in the seventies or eighties. Over the past twenty-five years, more cases have been associated with HIV infection in homosexual men.
The main symptoms of sarcoma are dark purple or brown lesions on the skin of different locations. Such formations can form on the skin or in the oral cavity. They affect internal organs, such as the digestive tract, liver, spleen, or lungs. Some patients do not show other symptoms, but there may be enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss for no reason, or fever. Patients are prescribed anti-cancer treatment and antiretroviral drugs.
Brain lymphoma in HIV / AIDS
Lymphoma affects four to ten percent of AIDS patients. Oncological AIDS-related indicator disease begins in the lymphoid tissue and affects neighboring organs. Since the active introduction of antiretroviral treatment, the number of patients who develop lymphoma has significantly decreased.
Primary lymphoma begins in the spinal cord or brain. Among the main symptoms of the central nervous system, facial paralysis, drowsiness and fatigue, memory loss, convulsions can be observed. This AIDS-related illness can trigger the formation of other lymphomas. All of them in HIV-positive patients will be malignant.
Pseudomonas infection
Such lesions of a dermatological nature are almost always difficult to treat, because the pathogen is highly resistant to chemotherapy. On the lower extremities, as a rule, the feet, spaces between the fingers are affected. During therapy lotions with a solution of acetyl acid are used, and if the course is severe, then antibiotics are used. Patients with Kaposi’s sarcoma or dermatitis may develop ulcers, even significant doses of the antibiotic will not give a positive result. In some cases, surgery is required.
Lymphocytic pneumonia
Symptoms of lymphocytic lymphoma include coughing, wet rales, and progressive shortness of breath. The diagnosis is made according to the results of an objective study, on the basis of anamnesis, lung biopsy and visualization methods. Treatment of the disease involves the use of corticosteroids and cytological agents, although the effectiveness of these methods of therapy is not known. Five-year survival is 50-66%, but this is subject to the absence of autoimmune diseases.
HIV dystrophy with infection
Dystrophy is a sharp weight loss, patients also have fatigue, drowsiness, and exhaustion. A change in the body is characterized by loss of adipose tissue, metabolic disorders. First, fat is lost on the legs, arms and face (sunken cheeks appear). A small amount of fatty deposits may appear on the back of the neck, chest, and abdomen. Dystrophy in itself can cause the patient significant inconvenience and is a dangerous condition in some cases. For example, fatty deposits on the back of the neck can cause severe headaches, trouble falling asleep, and difficulty breathing.
Viral diseases in AIDS patients
Group I diseases include a cytomegalovirus infection (as a rule, it does not infect the spleen virus, lymph nodes and liver). Another AIDS-associated disease of viral etiology - lesions of the skin and mucous membranes of the herpes virus, herpetic pneumonia, bronchitis of any duration. In addition, all viral infections in HIV-positive patients are more severe and complicated.
Precancerous changes and cervical cancer
Female HIV-infected patients are at high risk for cervical cancer. This is the growth of abnormal cells in the lower part or in the neck of an organ. Over time, the disease can develop into an invasive cancer, while mutated cells will spread to the inner layers of the uterus and other organs. Standard treatment has a worse effect on HIV-positive women, but usually they normally tolerate surgery. With the advanced form of the disease, radiation does not help much. After therapy, patients should be constantly monitored by a doctor to make sure that the cancer has not occurred again, because relapses are diagnosed very often.
Non-AIDS Cancer
AIDS-related diseases are becoming less common among patients today. But due to the increase in the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients, various tumors began to develop in them, which are not always provoked by the immunodeficiency virus. In most cases, the usual treatment is used, which also applies to HIV-negative patients. At the same time, the medicines necessary to maintain human health in AIDS are used.