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Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a condition seen in some cases of HIV/AIDS or immunosuppression, in which the immune system begins to recover, but then responds to a previously acquired opportunistic infection with an overwhelming inflammatory response that paradoxically makes the symptoms of infection worse.
Most of these conditions are opportunistic infections that are easily treated in healthy people. The staging system is different for adults and adolescents and children. [2] Stage I: HIV disease is asymptomatic and not categorized as AIDS. Stage II: include minor mucocutaneous manifestations and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections.
Caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients mainly presents as encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, but can take other forms as well, such as inflammation of the retinas or lungs. Toxoplasma, like most parasites, carries out its infection in distinct stages of life.
Declining CD4 T-cell counts are considered to be a marker of progression of HIV infection. A normal CD4 count can range from 500 cells/mm3 to 1000 cells/mm3. In HIV-positive people, AIDS is officially diagnosed when the count drops below 200 cells/μL or when certain opportunistic infections occur. This use of a CD4 count as an AIDS criterion ...
HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is not a true opportunistic infection; it is one of the few conditions caused directly by HIV itself. However, the cause of HAD can be difficult to discern because the central nervous system can be damaged by a number of other causes related to HIV infection: [citation needed] opportunistic infections
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of Lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans.Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), [1] [2] a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. [3]
In patients with HIV, starting antiretroviral therapy is especially important for restoration of the immune system and reducing the incidence rate of opportunistic infections [51] [52] In patients undergoing chemotherapy, completion of and recovery from treatment is the primary method for immune system restoration.
Following infection with HIV, the rate of clinical disease progression varies enormously between individuals. Many factors such as host susceptibility and immune function, [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] health care and co-infections, [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] as well as factors relating to the viral strain [ 8 ] [ 9 ] may affect the rate of clinical disease ...