Problems in the mouth or throat

People with HIV may experience problems in the mouth or throat due to side effects of medications, damaged or diseased teeth and gums, or opportunistic infections like thrush, chancres or herpes। Anti-HIV drugs sometimes cause abnormal tastes or dry mouth. The most common cause of swallowing problems is esophageal candidiasis (thrush in the throat). The overall strategy to address painful chewing and swallowing is to adjust textures and tastes for more soothing foods and beverages.

Weight loss and wasting

Severe weight loss is called wasting syndrome. While wasting has several definitions, the following criteria can be used to diagnose wasting:

• loss of 10% of body weight in 6 months or less OR
• 7.5% loss in 3 months or less OR
• 5% loss in 1 month OR
• BMI decreases to below 20 OR
• loss of 5% of body cell mass

Unwanted weight loss remains a serious risk for people with HIV because, as discussed in Chapter 3, even small losses of body cell mass can be dangerous. The primary strategy for treating weight loss and wasting is to increase food intake to the level needed to promote weight gain. This is achieved with a high-calorie, high-protein diet and a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement.