aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Homosexual HIV infected patients are also susceptible to sexually acquired organisms causing the gay bowel syndrome.
Other causes include:
Bacteria:
- Salmonella acquired from food is the most common bacterial cause of diarrhoea
- Campylobacter acquired both sexually and from food is the second most common bacterial cause.
Protozoa:
- Cryptosporidia is the commonest opportunistic cause of diarrhoea in HIV infected patients.
- Microsporidia and Giardia may also cause diarrhoea
Viruses:
- cytomegalovirus
- Adenovirus may also cause viral diarrhoea, though this occurs principally in immunosuppressed children and is relatively rare in HIV-positive patients.