Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, better known as HIV. According to the international AIDS charity AVERT, an estimated 1.1 million people were living with AIDS in the U.S in 2008. Infection occurs through transmission of contaminated body fluids through sexual contact, sharing of used needles and blood transfusion. AIDS weakens the body's immune system, making it susceptible to cancers and unable to ward off infections. This leads to serious complications.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections, particularly those of the lungs, are a common complication of AIDS. Such infections include bacterial pneumonia and mycobacterium avium complex, or MAC, a tuberculosis-like illness. It most likely can develop into a systemic infection that can affect almost any internal organ including the bone marrow, liver or spleen. Tuberculosis is commonly seen in AIDS patients living in poor nations, says MayoClinic.com. It is the most opportunistic infection associated with HIV, although it's more complicated to treat because it is highly contagious.
Parasitic Complications
Parasites can also cause infections that can be fatal to an AIDS patient. They can attack different organs by various routes, leading to life-threatening conditions if not treated immediately. Parasites may attack the lungs as in Pneumocyctis carinii pneumonia, a condition characterized by cough, fever and trouble breathing. Toxoplasmosis is another type of parasitic complication that can lead to encephalitis, or infection of the brain. Contaminated food or water may also introduce parasites into bile ducts and intestines, resulting in severe diarrhea.
Cancers
Kaposi's sarcoma is very common in people infected with AIDS. Symptoms usually start as pink lesions on the mouth and skin, but can also progress to the digestive tract and lungs. According to MayoClinic.com, the use of anti-retrovirals minimizes the incidence of cancer and reduces the lesions.
