Prominent symptoms include cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, facial pain, fever, and night sweat. Anecdotally, reports indicate that among people with AIDS who first are treated for bacterial pneumonia or PCP, aspergillosis may follow. Doctors think that these other infections weaken the lungs, making it easier for the fungus to take root. Candidiasis Formed from a mold called Candida albicans, candida is the most common HIV-related fungus infection expressing itself in the human body as thrush or a yeast infection, especially in women. When infected, patients experience discomfort in the mucous membranes around the mouth, vagina, esophagus, and skin.
Typical symptoms are white humps, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and an altered sense of taste.
It isn t really clear if preventative measures are more effective than treating thrush after it appears. For vaginal yeast infections, yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures decreases infection rates. Drugs used to treat candida depend on where and how in the body the fungus shows itself. For oral thrush, doctors often prescribe fluconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and nystatin. The threat of fungal infections, at least for some individuals, has lessened with the advent of newer HIV drugs.