Clinical Manifestations of HIV Infection

Clinical Manifestations of HIV infection

• AIDS is characterized by a pronounced suppression of the immune system and the development of unusual neoplasms and wide variety of severe opportunistic infections.
• The more serious symptoms in adults are often followed by diarrhea and loss of weight that can induce:

1. Fatigue
2. Malaise
3. Weight loss
4. Fever
5. Shortness of breath
6. Chronic diarrhea White patches on the tongue (hairy leukoplakia, oral candidiasis)
7. Lymphadenopathy
8. Disease symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the colon are common

• The period between primary infection with HIV and the first appearance of clinical disease is usually long in adults, averaging about 10 years.

Death occurs about 2 years later after clinical appearance of disease.