Uncontrolled, loose and frequent bowel movements. In the United States, almost all people with
AIDS develop diarrhea at some time in the course of their disease. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to weight loss and malnutrition. The excessive loss of fluid that may occur with AIDS-related diarrhea can be life-threatening. There are many possible causes of diarrhea in people who have
AIDS. The most common
infectious organism causing AIDS-related diarrhea include
cytomegalovirus (
CMV); the parasites Cryptosporidium, Microsporidia and Giardia lamblia; and the
bacterium Mycobacterium avium-inracellulare (
MAC). Other bacteria and parasites that cause diarrheal
symptoms in otherwise healthy people may cause more severe, prolonged or recurrent diarrhea in people with HIV or
AIDS. See also
Cytomegalovirus;
Giardiasis;
Microsporidiosis;
Mycobacterium Avium Complex.