WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS IN AIDS?

Due to poor defence mechanism of the body, several organisms who otherwise would not have been able to, infect people with AIDS. Detailed below are some of the common opportunistic infections seen in people with AIDS.

1. Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is already one of the major health problems in India, people with HIV infection are at higher risk of getting it. With upsurge of HIV the looming spectre of Tuberculosis has become horrifying.
   
   Many Indians have latent tuberculosis, meaning they have neither signs/symptoms nor are they able to spread the disease to others. They can however become sick and get infected with active tuberculosis at the later stage. With defence mechanism at a low these get active infection very fast and to add to misery do not respond to treatment. Resistant tuberculosis is one of the important causes of the early death in people with HIV infection. Tuberculosis often occurs in the early stages of HIV infection. Very often, tuberculosis is the first indication that a person has HIV infection.
   
   Although tuberculosis largely affects the lungs, it can also affect other organs of the body. People with AIDS are more likely to get infection in other organs of the body. Common symptoms of tuberculosis include cough, fever, increased sweating at nights, loss of weight and excessive fatigue.
   
   
2. AIDS dementia complex: This is not a true opportunistic infection. It is one of few conditions caused directly by the HIV virus. HIV can cross the blood brain barrier present all around the brain. It can damage not only the brain but also the spinal cord– the extension of the brain that emerges from the base of the neck and passes through the backbone – and the nerves. Common symptoms of AIDS dementia complex include confusion, depression and a strange unusual behaviour. There may be general loss of interest in the surroundings, indifference, etc. In later stages, it causes loss of memory, uncoordinated movements, or paralysis.
   
   

3. Diagnostic diseases: Kaposi’s sarcoma and cryptococcal meningitis are the two diseases that are a definite indication AIDS.
   
   Kaposi’s sarcoma: this is a most common cancer seen in people with AIDS. Some studies have indicated that this is due to infection by one of the herpes groups of viruses. Although exact cause is not known, its presence is a definite indication of AIDS.
   
   Common symptoms of include red or purple raised areas on the skin. They may also be present in internal organs of the body such as mouth, lymph nodes, digestive tract and lungs. Recent advances in management of Kaposi’s sarcoma have increased the chances of complete recovery.
   
   Cryptococcal meningitis: This infection is caused by yeast like fungus called cryptococcal neoformins. It is found in soil in most parts of the world, especially the soil that is contaminated with bird droppings. In the early stages of the infection, the fungus affects the brain and the lungs. In later stages, it can affect any part of the body.
   
   Cryptococcal meningitis is more common among people with CD4 count less than fifty. Common symptoms of cryptococcal meningitis include fever, mild headache followed by nausea, vomiting, severe headache and blurring of vision.