The human immune deficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) attacks specific components of the immune system of the body, making the body prone to certain opportunistic infections, cancers and other peculiar illnesses. The incidence of these opportunistic infections and cancers has, according to the Mayo Clinic, been markedly reduced by antiretroviral therapy. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies most of these HIV-related illnesses as AIDS-defining conditions.
Opportunistic Infections
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), opportunistic infections, which are infections otherwise uncommon in healthy immune systems, are the most common cause of death in people with HIV/AIDS.
Bacterial infections common in HIV/AIDS include tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, recurrent salmonella septicemia, bacterial diarrhea (shigellosis, salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis), bacillary angiomatosis and recurrent bacterial skin sepsis.
Other bacterial infections more common in advanced stages of the disease are mycobacterium avium complex and mycobacterium kansasii. Fungal Infections common in HIV/AIDS include systemic and cutaneous candidiasis (thrush), cryptococcal meningitis, coccydiomycosis, aspergillosis and histoplasmosis.
Viral infections common in HIV/AIDS are viral hepatitis (with hepatitis A, B or C viruses), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), herpes zoster (shingles), human papilloma virus (HPV), molluscum contagiosum, oral hairy leukoplakia and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
Parasitic opportunistic infections are toxoplasmosis of the brain, isosporiasis, cryptosporidiosis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and microsporidiosis.
Cancers
The immune system also protects against cancers particularly those with infective agents as the probable cause. Cancers common to HIV/AIDS include Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cervical and anal cancers.
Neurological Problems
HIV appears to attack the brain directly, leading to the development of the AIDS dementia complex (ADC) in people with HIV/AIDS. According to the DHHS, this used to be a very common symptom of advanced disease before the introduction of highly effective HIV/AIDS treatments. The virus also damages peripheral nerves causing peripheral neuropathy.
Kidney Disease
Kidney disease affects an estimated 30 percent of people with HIV/AIDS, says the DHHS. The common manifestation of this is called HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Another source of kidney damage is nephrotoxicity arising as a side effect of HIV treatment with certain drugs.
Other Illnesses
There are other illnesses common in HIV/AIDS such as wasting syndrome, oral aphthous ulcers (canker sores) and thrombocytopenia.
