Infectious Diseases · Pathway 11
HIV: Diarrhoea
Key points
- Diarrhoea is common in patients with HIV. This may be due to the effects of the virus itself (HIV enteritis) or opportunistic infections Possible causes
- Cryptosporidium + other protozoa (most common)
- Cytomegalovirus
- Mycobacterium avium intracellulare
- Giardia Cryptosporidium is the most common infective cause of diarrhoea in HIV patients. It is an intracellular protozoa and has an incubation period of 7 days. Presentation is very variable,