Intestinal Disorders

The churning action of the stomach breaks down food to help the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Malabsorption and diarrhea from intestinal problems are common in HIV and can result from both infectious and non-infectious causes.

Intestinal opportunistic infections are less frequent now than they were in the pre-HAART era, but people with advanced AIDS can develop Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) or other bacterial infections of the small intestine. Cryptosporidium, a parasite which causes chronic diarrhea in people with AIDS, other parasites such as giardia and microsporidia, and some viruses can all infect the small intestine. Symptoms of small intestine infection often include upper abdominal cramping, bloating, and nausea, along with diarrhea. Stool and blood tests are necessary to check for infectious causes of diarrhea. When an infection can't be found, the diarrhea may be the result of small bowel bacterial overgrowth or HIV enteropathy -- the direct infection of the intestine with HIV. HIV enteropathy alters the lining of the small intestine, decreasing the area available to absorb nutrients. This condition may also affect drug absorption, although it's difficult to test the effects directly.

Infection in the large intestine has a distinct set of symptoms -- diarrhea with lower abdominal pain, defecating blood, or feeling the need to defecate but being unable to do so. The large intestine is a common site for infection with CMV, HSV, and bacteria like salmonella and shigella. Antibiotic therapy can alter the environment of the gut, allowing for overgrowth of the bacteria clostridium difficile in the large intestine, which causes diarrhea 3-4 times a day.

Stomach Disorders

Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) is a common problem regardless of HIV status. Symptoms of gastritis include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and, in severe cases, vomiting blood. Common causes of gastritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen, major health stress (patients who are sick enough to be in an Intensive Care Unit), heavy alcohol use, and infection with the bacteria H pylori. H pylori doesn't cause problems for most people who have it. And it is no more common in people with HIV than in those without HIV. But the presence of H pylori can negatively affect treatment success for people with HIV.

The breakdown of the stomach or intestinal lining causes an ulcer. Ulcers are extremely common - 10% of adults have an ulcer at some point in their lives -- and they cause dull or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen. Contrary to popular belief, ulcers occur more frequently in the small intestine than in the stomach, and they are more commonly caused by NSAIDs, excessive acid production, or H pylori infection than by stress or too much coffee. An upper endoscopy is performed to diagnose ulcers, often accompanied by specialized testing for H pylori.

HIV gastropathy, a condition caused by decreased stomach acid secretion, makes affected patients more susceptible to bacterial infections like salmonella and shigella. These bacteria would normally be destroyed by acidic stomach contents. HIV gastropathy also decreases absorption of medications that require an acidic environment, such as Nizoral (ketoconazole) and Sporanox (itraconazole), two commonly-used antifungal drugs. There is no specific test for HIV gastropathy at this time, but your healthcare provider may make certain medication adjustments if he or she suspects this condition, such as switching to other drugs that don't depend on acid for absorption.

Disorders of Esophagus

The GI tract is a long tube with one entrance (the mouth) and one exit (the anus), and problems can occur in any section on the way down. The esophagus is the part of the tube between the mouth and the stomach. The muscles of the esophagus contract and relax to propel food down. A muscular valve at the base of the esophagus closes off the stomach so that its acidic contents can't leak back up into the esophagus.

Heartburn - a burning sensation behind the center of the ribcage - occurs when stomach contents travel back up the esophagus. If you experience heartburn, it usually happens thirty to sixty minutes after eating and is sometimes accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth. Heartburn can be prevented by waiting at least three hours after meals to lie down, by elevating the head of the bed or using extra pillows in bed, and by avoiding spicy or acidic foods. Other lifestyle changes to help prevent heartburn include maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding tight belts or pants.

Frequent heartburn is a side effect of some HIV medications. It may also be a sign of esophageal reflux disease, called GERD for short. GERD can damage the lining of the esophagus and lead to other complications. Frequent heartburn should be discussed with your health care provider, as inexpensive, over-the-counter treatments are available. Further testing by your provider, including looking down the esophagus with a camera (an upper endoscopy), may be necessary if the symptoms don't go away.

Another symptom related to the esophagus is pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing. Those symptoms should raise a red flag, especially for people with low immune function (CD4 counts less than 200), as they may be signs of a yeast infection (esophageal candidiasis), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or herpes virus (HSV), each of which requires specific therapy. Left untreated, swallowing problems can have a significant negative impact on medication adherence, nutrition, and, of course, quality of life. Treating AIDS with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) helps to cure esophageal infection and to prevent future infections.

Several medications -- some used to treat HIV and opportunistic infections as well as some used to treat other illnesses and conditions -- may cause direct injury to the lining of the esophagus if the pills get stuck in the esophagus as they travel down. They should always be taken with plenty of water while you're sitting up to make sure that the medications are appropriately washed down.

The infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIVE infection, AIDS)

The infection caused by immunodeficiency virus (HIVE). Another name - AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). I have in recent years the spread of epidemic in the world, is caused by human immunodeficiency virus, found in saliva and mucous discharges of patients. This is a contagious disease, developed with the hit of the causative agent in the blood, most often transmitted sexually. HIVE infection occurs and when intravenous drugs, with transfusions of blood and its products because of the non-tool, especially needles.
Destroyed by boiling the causal agent of AIDS, ether, acetone, ethanol (20%), sophomoric sodium (0.2%). For the first time the disease was detected among homosexuals and drug addicts. He even called the first "gay disease." Pain predominantly male (9 of 10). Later it was also widely disseminated among the people, having indiscriminate sex. We prove the transmission of the virus from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.
Symptoms and over. First, the temperature rises to 38-40S, at any time of day, there is profuse sweating, sharply reduced physical activity. At the same time, you may experience liquid stools, loss of flesh, shortness of breath, inflammatory changes in skin, hair loss, increase in lymph nodes. This may take several years. Then the patients developed various associated infections, which rarely occur in people with normal immunity. They can affect the skin, lymph nodes, eyes, the various departments of gastrointestinal tract, lungs, central nervous system. At the skin while there are various rashes (spotty, nodular, bubble, etc.), often accompanied by itch's. The difficult period of these diseases is extremely limited due to the protective forces of the body. Most of the time in patients with AIDS, there is double the current pneumonia persisted. Often occurs candidness of the oral cavity, which is spreading, resulting in a vipers the esophagi and lungs. At the oral mucosa, genital organs and perineum bubble eruptions occur. Many affects the central nervous system, eyes. Often there diarrhea, taking a rather hard, with frequent watery stools (up to 15 liters a day). The majority of patients immediately after recovery from illness infection the other begins, there is a mix of various infections.
Approximately 40% of AIDS patients develop malignant tumors. Often diagnosed at a late stage or after the death of the patient. Approximately 1 / 3 found Kapok's sarcoma, which often affects not only the skin, and lymph nodes, mucous membranes and internal organs.
Quite often infected with the virus for several years, apart from increasing the neck, or axillaries cervical lymph nodes, there are no other symptoms with further classical painting.
Human immunodeficiency virus, and the war affect the people most active age.

Scientists have found that the AIDS virus can hide in cells of human

Scientists have found that the human immunodeficiency virus ( HIVE), causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), can hide in human cells, so that the natural protective mechanisms do not notice. The statement was made by Dr. Kathleen Collins (Kathleen Collins) from the University of Michigan (University of Michigan), USA. She worked with the report on the 162 the meeting of the general microbiology (Society for General Microbiology), taking place this week at the International Conference Center (International Conference Center) in Edinburgh, UK.
Usually, the immune system reacts to the emergence of the virus (egg influenza virus), the formulation of special cells that can cope with the virus. But in the case of HIVE immune response can be formed all human life, because it evaded the virus from immune cells, making them feel part of the normal cells. Hide helps protein Neff, explains Dr. Collins. He is introduced to the part of the immune system, which is responsible for the identification of viruses and bacteria. U.S. Scientists have developed drugs that can block this action of protein Neff.
Incidentally, during the same session of the general microbiology hear the report that the AIDS virus emerged as a result of evolution. The nearest relatives of the virus, SIVA (simian immunodeficiency virus, immunodeficiency virus monkeys) living in monkeys, do not destroy the work of the immune system of their hosts. More active and destructive force of HIVE obliged all the same protein Neff.
AIDS made its presence felt recently, only 26 years ago. Journal of Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (departmental publication of the American Center for disease control) 5 June, 1981 published an article about a strange outbreak of pneumonia in Los Angels, USA. During 7 months, five men have been victims of a microscopic fungus Pneumatics caring, which often occurs in the human lung, but usually behaves quietly and may cause disease only in people with suppressed immunity. In addition, all patients were found cytomegalovirus, has also tended to quickly neutralized the immune system. It was clear that the five with severe immune disorders could not accidentally come together. It turned out that all the victims were members of one sex communes. Therefore, in the introductory part of the article Dr. Jim Curran suggested that the depression of immunity due to any infection, possibly transmitted through sexual contact. Since the world first learned about AIDS.

A protein "lock" the AIDS virus in human cells

American biologists discovered a protein that prevents new particles of human immunodeficiency virus (HIVE) to withdraw from the infected cells, thus preventing virus reproduction.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, believe their discovery will help to create new ways to fight HIVE.
The human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS and other viruses, is the intracellular parasites and can not reproduce without the participation of different ways of living cell.Virus "cheat" system cells, forcing them to make viral proteins instead of their own.
Infected cells works as a kind of factory for production of viral particles - proving that at the final stage of development must reach out through the membrane infected cells.
Scientists had previously been known that most human cells contain a factor that regulates the output of viral particles, but still a factor that has not been identified.
Biologists from the Emory University Medical School (Georgia), Vanderbilt University and the Mayo Clinic have found that HIVE particle "locks" in the cell protein CAME (calcium-modulating chillingly lag ans).
This protein works in the latter stages of the life cycle of the virus, keeping Verizon in the membrane of cells. However, HIVE and developed a means of defense against CAME - viral protein Up. When Up is absent, the virus particles can not be separated from the membrane.
When researchers in the laboratory "removed" from the human cell protein CAME, they found that Up was no longer required to exit the virus particles from the cell. When the researchers introduced CAME in cells, which under normal circumstances do not prevent the entry of HIVE particles, Verizon stayed on the surface of cells.
"This study is important because experience shows that CAME - is innate defense mechanism against HIVE", - said one of the authors, Professor Paul Spinier (Paul Spearman) from Emory University.

Infections

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
This virus family herpetologist. It can be located not only in those infected with HIVE. But a person with a healthy immune system, it either does not cause any inflammation (of symptoms) or manifest as a mild cold. CMV can be transmitted through semen, cervical secret urine. He very easily transmitted through sexual contact. People with immunodeficiency virus that can cause liver injury (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonia), gastrointestinal tract (colitis), the eye (retinues, often resulting in complete or substantial loss of vision). Because CMV is transmitted through semen and cervical secret and urine, HIVE-positive people must use a condom during any sexual contact penetrating to prevent contamination of this virus.
Not a small role in the prevention of CMV plays a compliance standard of hygiene, including the timely thorough handshaking.
Hairy leukemia
This defeat cover fabric of language, as reflected stuck wite thin hairs (similar to the raw cotton). Called Epstein-Bar virus. Leukemia does not endanger the lives of HIVE-infected, but reduces the quality of life, so how can create discomfort when eating. It is not contagious and often goes by itself .. Look-alike may be confused with candidiasis, but unlike him, leukemia does not extend further language.
Herpes simplex I and herpes simplex II
This family of viruses herpes. Manifested in the form of small bubbles in the vicinity of the mouth ( "cold") (herpes simplex I) or the anus and / or genitals (herpes simplex II). Those and other manifestations are usually held in 10-15 days, but could be renewed. It may be infected by both viruses at once. People with impaired immune systems of most do not pass, and spread on the skin to other parts of the body. The lesions are sometimes accompanied by severe itch, which poses a considerable inconvenience.
Lymph nodes
This is a long time not passing the increase in lymph nodes. Its cause is not a specific infectious agent (this is not a contagious disease). Usually, when the body is struggling with an infection the size of lymph nodes increased some what, particularly in the worst-hit areas of the body. Increased state of lymph nodes may persist up to several weeks.
In the case of HIVE infection, increasing the lymph nodes is observed through 2-6 months after infection, and remains a very long time, because the body can not "win" the infection and is in a position to fight. Sometimes lymph nodes reach a significant size, so that they can be seen.