Favy

A person with HIV/AIDS had difficulty in swallowing food. Doctor did an endoscopy and found out that the esophagus is infected with fungus. The endoscopy video shows a clear difference between a healthy esophagus and one affected in a person with HIV. The normal lining is smooth and pink with soft folds that allow food to pass easily. In the HIV case the walls are covered with thick white patches that look rough and stuck to the surface. These patches make the tube look swollen and narrower. Esophageal candidiasis is a yeast infection that grows in the food pipe when the immune system is weak. People with advanced HIV often develop it because their body cannot control the yeast that normally lives harmlessly in the mouth and gut. The white patches cause pain behind the chest and make swallowing difficult or painful. Some people also feel a burning sensation or notice food getting stuck. Doctors treat the infection with antifungal tablets such as fluconazole that kill the yeast. Most people improve within a few days once treatment starts. Keeping HIV under control with medicines is the best way to stop the infection from returning. Strong immune function prevents the yeast from overgrowing and protects the esophagus.