AIDS wasting syndrome causes involuntary weight loss in patients with HIV/AIDS due to metabolic abnormalities, poor diet, or other infections. HIV infection affects metabolism and nutrient absorption, making it difficult to maintain body mass. Treatment includes medication to control symptoms and appetite stimulants. Researchers are developing treatments for metabolic abnormalities, but they are expensive.
AIDS wasting syndrome describes the involuntary weight loss experienced by patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) as the disease progresses. Wasting can be caused by metabolic abnormalities, poor diet, elimination of nutrients through vomiting or diarrhea, or other infections. AIDS wasting syndrome is characterized by the loss of at least 10% of body mass after infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients can die of wasting even when their symptoms are otherwise controlled by medication.
Studies have shown that AIDS infection and its treatment affect metabolism. This can accelerate the progress of AIDS wasting syndrome. As the body fights off the disease, it burns calories faster than the body of an uninfected person. HIV infection also limits the body’s natural ability to build protein and process foods. People with HIV or AIDS should take in more nutrients and calories than they did before the infection to maintain body mass.
Patients suffering from AIDS wasting syndrome often have poor eating habits related to the infection. They may not be able or willing to cook healthy meals due to lack of resources or depression. AIDS wasting syndrome can be exacerbated by poor appetite due to illness or as a side effect of medications. Opportunistic infections affecting the digestive tract can make eating difficult or painful.
Even if a patient is consuming an adequate number of calories and nutrients, they may still suffer from AIDS wasting syndrome due to poor nutrient absorption. This condition is often characterized by 30 days of diarrhea, which inhibits the body’s ability to benefit from nutrition. The virus that causes AIDS can damage the stomach lining, causing food intolerances or further absorption problems. Some of the drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS can inhibit nutrient absorption or cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Since AIDS wasting syndrome is a symptom of infection with various underlying causes, there is no single treatment for it. In most cases, doctors make an effort to use medications to control the progression of the infection and symptoms. The treatment plan would include the use of medications to control diarrhea and opportunistic infections while maintaining body mass.
Patients with AIDS wasting syndrome can take medications to reduce nausea and vomiting, which in turn increase the amount of food the patient consumes. Doctors sometimes prescribe appetite stimulants, including medical marijuana, to increase food intake. Nutritional supplements or high-calorie beverages can add support to the daily diet of a patient with AIDS wasting syndrome.
Researchers have developed treatments for metabolic abnormalities in AIDS patients. Treatment with human growth hormone looks promising for building lean muscle mass; however, it is cost-prohibitive for most patients. Progesterone can also be used to gain body mass, but it primarily encourages the growth of fat cells rather than lean body mass. Treatments with thalidomide and anabolic steroids are also promising forms of treatment.
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