AGENTS OF DIARRHEA

Diarrhea is a common problem for AIDS patients, and is chronic and deb ilitating. A thorough evaluation will reveal a pathogen in the majorit y of patients, and the organisms most frequently identified in AIDS pa tients with chronic diarrhea are Cryptosporidium, microsporidia, and M ycobacterium avium complex. Bacterial pathogens are more common in AID S patients than in the general population and may present in different ways from infections in immunocompetent hosts. Other pathogens, inclu ding Cryptosporidium and microsporidia, are difficult to diagnose and have no effective therapy. Moreover, enteric viruses and HIV itself ma y contribute to the diarrhea. In addition to microbes, other factors s uch as medication, immune dysregulation, automatic dysfunction, and nu tritional supplementation play a substantial role in diarrhea of AIDS patients.