AIDS and HIV: How Immune Destruction Leads to Opportunistic Diseases
HIV destroys CD4+ T cells, crippling immunity. AIDS (late-stage HIV) predisposes to:
- Opportunistic infections: PCP pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, candidiasis.
- AIDS-defining cancers: Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cervical cancer.
- Neurological complications: HAND (cognitive/motor decline), HIV encephalitis.
Early HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppress viral load, preserve immunity, and prevent AIDS complications. Regular monitoring and prophylaxis are essential.
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