weight loss associated with HIV infection

Last reviewed 01/2018

10-15% of patients suffering from AIDS lose more than 10% of their body weight in the absence of other detectable underlying disease.

Wasting may be due to a number of factors including anorexia, malabsorption and occult infection. These are contributed to by infective damage to the jejunum, and a cytokine mediated increase in metabolic rate.

In a child there may be failure to thrive.