 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
Email
Glossary |
|
Why do AIDS patients get rare diseases? Oct 30, 2001 I'm really confused. Why do AIDS patients contract rare diseases? So called 'indicator diseases'?Rare forms of pneumonias, cancers etc. Why not just the common cold? |
|
 |
|||
|
|||
 |
|
Response from Dr. Feinberg
 People with HIV get specific unusual diseases because their immune system has been severely damaged. Ordinary germs can infect healthy people-- you don't need to have an immune deficiency to get a cold. Not all immune deficiencies are alike. There are different 'arms' of the immune system. HIV infection most heavily damages the 'cellular immunity' arm, and germs that are normally attacked by the cellular immune defenses in healthy people are the ones that can cause typical AIDS-indicator diseases. |
|
 Why test again? |  Rigors and Fever |
|
| |
Q&A TERMS OF USE
This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.
Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Review our complete terms of use and copyright notice.
