Overview of pulmonary complications

Pulmonary diseases continue to be important causes of illness and death in patients with HIV infection, but changes in therapy and demographics of HIV-infected populations are changing their manifestations. The risk of developing specific disorders is related to the area of residence, degree of immunosuppressions, HIV risk group, and use of prophylactic therapies. Bronchitis and sinusitis occur commonly in the general population but more frequently in HIV-infected persons. The increasing population of HIV-infected drug users is reflected in the increasing incidence of bacterial pneumonia and tuberculosis. Antipneumocystis prophylaxis has reduced the incidence of and mortality rate from this infection, and adjunctive corticosteroid therapy has improved the outlook for respiratory failure. Increased longevity, however, carries the risk of developing other opportunistic infections and neoplasms, some previously rare in AIDS.