HIV AIDS physical examination

The physical examination of a patient with HIV/AIDS can be variable depending on the stage of the disease. Physical exam findings may be related to the virus itself or secondary to the opportunistic infections of late disease. Findings include fever, lymphadenopathy, rash, oral thrush, retinal infiltrates, crackles on auscultation, and focal neurologic deficits.

The appearance of the patient depends on the stage of the disease. The patient may look very healthy or be ill-looking and cachectic.^[1]

• Fever can be present.

• Tachycardia can be present.

• Hypotension can be present.

• Tachypnea can be seen during fever and respiratory tract infections

• Folliculitis can be present.
• Seborrheic dermatitis can be present.
• Psoriasis can be present.
• Skin lesions can be present in some cases.

• Retinal hemorrhage may be present.
• Retinal infiltrates may be present.

• Tenderness of sinuses may be elicited.

• Inflammation of the nasal turbinates may be present.

• Unilateral or bilateral deafness may be present.
• Discharge from the ears may be found.

• Peridontal disease may be present.
• Oral herpes simplex lesions may be found.
• Oral thrush may be found.

• Crackles and rhonchi may be found.
• Dullness to percussion can be present.
• Increased tactile fremitus can be present.

• A heart murmur can be found.

• Abdominal tenderness can be found.
• Hepatomegaly may be detected.
• Splenomegaly may be detected.

• Inguinal lymphadenopathy.
  • The lymph nodes may increase in size after sexual intercourse^[2]

• Muscle weakness may be present.
• Joint swelling may be present.

• Focal neurological deficits may be found.

• Behavioral changes may be observed.
• Gait disturbances may be present.

• 
  Kaposi’s sarcoma. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]
• 
  Kaposi’s sarcoma in the retromandibular region. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]
• 
  Labial and gingival Kaposi’s sarcoma. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]
• 
  Oral candidiasis infection. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]
• 
  Oral pseudomembranous candidiasis infection. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]
• 
  Oral candidiasis infection. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]
• 
  Kaposi’s sarcoma lesion candidiasis infection. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[3]

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