The Most Common HIV Complications

With drug therapy for HIV individuals can expect to live long healthy lives. However there are some health concerns that can be nipped in the bud before it turns into something worst. For women with HIV dysplasia is very common. However, with dysplasia there is treatment to take care of abnormal cells. Women must keep their yearly appointments with there gynecologist and get those Pap smears, it is important for all women to get an exam every year. One point before we go on into complications of HIV is protection. There are only two ways one can protect their health from HIV or any other STD, and those are using a condom; or not have sex. I do not think many individuals are opting for elimating sex, so please use protection, protection, protection.

Secondly, if you have not had an HIV test please get tested, even if you feel you do not need to be tested due to your being careful, and safe it is still a good choice to get an HIV to be 100% sure of your HIV status.

Individuals who understand and those who study HIV, and AIDS know that opportunistic infections can cause complications with HIV patients. There are some conditions that are not life threatening but can occur some time along a person's journey with HIV disease. Today becasue of HIV medication, and drug theraphies we do not see as many OI as we did in the early years of HIV. Opportunistic infections in general terms can show up in patients who CD4 count fall below 200.

What Is a CD4 Count?

CD4 counts are T-Cells, the T is for thymus. T-Cells make up a person's CD4 count. CD4 T-cells are the body's cellular immune response system. The T-cells send signals to the immune cells to its job in fighting off viruses, and pathogens that enter the body.

HIV in patients who have progressed to AIDS are at higher risk of having PCP if they are not on preventative medication. PCP which is caused by a fungus pneumocystis jiroveci, the fungus commonly infects the lungs, symptoms of PCP are:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Weight Loss
• Dry Cough
• Night Sweats
• Shortness of Breath

Bacterial Pneumonia which is different than PCP is caused by different types of bacteria. Symptoms for bacterial pneumonia are:

• Chills
• High Fever
• Chest Pain
• Cough with excessive phlegm
• Trouble Breathing

Neuropathy is common among HIV patients, although it can be managed with new treatments becoming available it is painful. Peripheral Neuropathy is one of the side-effects of some antiretroviral therapy, but it is also one of the known HIV complications whether due to HIV or as a side-effect. Symptoms of neuropathy are:

• Numbness
• Tingling in hands and/or feet
• Pain in hands and/or feet

FATIGUE

Fatigue is another complication of HIV, some patients of HIV complaint of extreme fatigue of being tired whereas some patients may not experience fatigue. There are different strains of HIV, and it widely various from patient to patient in the ways it affects different individuals.