There are 56,300 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, infection in the U.S. yearly, according to the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. HIV attacks the immune system which is then weakened. When HIV depletes the number of disease-fighting CD4 cells in the body, the body is susceptible to various diseases.
Brain Infections
Brain diseases can occur as a result of HIV weakening the immune system. For example, a common fungus found in the soil and associated with bird droppings can cause a serious infection of the brain sheath called Cryptococcal meningitis.
The parasite, toxoplasmosis, can likewise infect the brain of an HIV patient causing confusion, delusions, headache, seizures and coma.
HIV encephalopathy is another disease that alters the brain and disrupts cognitive ability, memory and other mental functions. Encephalopathy is usually caused by a bacteria, virus or prion, an infectious protein that affects the brain structure and is universally fatal.
Genitalia Infections
HIV-positive patients whose immune systems are severely compromised may develop human papilloma virus, or HPV. HPV causes genital warts, with certain types linked to cervical and anal cancer. Because the immune system is compromised, warts affecting HIV patients can grow very large and sometimes block the vaginal canal or rectal vault.
Herpes simplex virus, or HSV, is another infection to which HIV patients are more susceptible. It causes painful blistering of the genitalia that can become infected, causing more pain and sepsis.
People afflicted with HIV may experience an overgrowth of Candida, or yeast, in the vagina which causes severe infections that are difficult to clear. Yeast infections are characterized by painful burning, itching and a thick white discharge.
Lung Infections
A common lung disease among HIV positive patients is Pneumocystis pneumonia, or PCP. It is an AIDS indicator which means that people with PCP have severely compromised immune systems. Pneumocystitis jirovecci, which causes PCP, is a fungus that infects the lungs and causes fever, weight loss, shortness of breath, cough and night sweats.
Histoplasmosis is another fungal infection of the lungs. It is common to the Southern United States and found in areas where there are bird droppings. When inhaled by HIV-positive patients, it infects the lungs and causes high fever, enlargement of the spleen, weight loss, respiratory complaints and liver enlargement.
Tuberculosis, or TB, is a common infection among those who are HIV-positive. TB that is multi-drug resistant creates even more serious problems for the HIV patient as it can't be effectively treated or prevented from spreading.
