HIV-1 and HIV-2: overview of disease spectrum

This overview has attempted to cover the more common aspects of the clinical presentations of HIV infection and the differential diagnoses. These can only be generalizations as presentations differ dramatically from patient to patient. It is also important to be aware that in an individual the disease is continually evolving and the same complication may produce very different clinical manifestations at different times. It is vital to have a high index of suspicion of the occurrence of complications and to treat promptly. Delay may not only make successful treatment more difficult but it is conceivable that it may exacerbate the underlying immunodeficiency and hasten progression of disease.