title: Infections in AIDS patients.
abstract: In the absence of a specific diagnostic test for AIDS, a case can be recognized only when complications of the immune deficiency such as opportunistic infections or Kaposi's sarcoma occur. Defective T-cell function is the principal immunological defect; however, there are defects in B-cell function which may have some clinical significance. It has not been possible to reverse the immunological deficiency in AIDS patients. These patients remain susceptible to a succession of infections to which they ultimately succumb. Effective treatment is available for many of the infectious complications of AIDS.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000503:physiopathology