Does Hiv Cause Low Red Blood Cell Count – Medically reviewed by Cameron White, M.D., MPH — By Ann Pietrangelo and Kristeen Cherney — Updated June 30, 2023

HIV destroys CD4 cells, which are responsible for keeping people healthy and protecting them from disease and infection. As HIV gradually weakens the body’s natural defenses, signs and symptoms may occur.

Does Hiv Cause Low Red Blood Cell Count

HIV targets the types of cells that would normally fight off an invader like HIV. As the virus replicates, it damages or destroys the infected CD4 cell and produces more virus to infect more CD4 cells. CD4 cells are also called T cells or helper cells.

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Without treatment, this cycle can continue until the immune system is badly compromised, leaving a person at risk for serious illnesses and infections.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of HIV. At this stage, the immune system is seriously weakened, and the risk of contracting opportunistic infections is much greater.

However, not everyone with HIV will develop AIDS. The sooner a person receives treatment, the better their outcome will be.

The immune system prevents the body from getting the diseases and infections that come along. White blood cells defend the body against viruses, bacteria and other organisms that can make a person sick.

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Within days of exposure to the virus, a person with HIV may experience a flu-like illness that lasts for several weeks. This is associated with the first stage of HIV, which is called the acute infectious stage, or acute HIV.

An HIV-positive person may not have many serious symptoms during this stage, but there are usually large amounts of virus in their blood because the virus replicates quickly.

The next stage is called the chronic infection stage. It can last as long as 10 to 15 years. An HIV-positive person may or may not show signs or have symptoms during this stage.

Kaposi’s sarcoma, another possible complication, is a cancer of the blood vessel walls. It is rare among the general population, but it is more common in people with advanced HIV.

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Symptoms include red or dark purple lesions on the mouth and skin. It can also cause problems in the lungs, the digestive tract and other internal organs.

HIV and AIDS also put a person at a higher risk for developing lymphomas. An early sign of lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes.

HIV makes it harder to fight respiratory problems like the cold and flu. In turn, an HIV-positive person may develop related infections, such as pneumonia.

Without HIV treatment, advanced disease puts an HIV-positive person at even greater risk for infectious complications, such as tuberculosis and a fungal infection called pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP).

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The risk of lung cancer also increases with HIV. This is due to weakened lungs due to many respiratory problems related to a weakened immune system.

People with HIV are more likely to develop high blood pressure. HIV also increases the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is a type of high blood pressure in the arteries that supply blood to the lungs. Over time, PAH will strain the heart and can lead to heart failure.

TB is an airborne bacterium that affects the lungs. It is a leading cause of death in people who have AIDS. Symptoms include chest pain and a bad cough that may contain blood or mucus. The cough may persist for months.

Because HIV affects the immune system, it also makes the body more susceptible to infections that can affect the digestive system.

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Problems with the digestive tract can also decrease the appetite and make it difficult to eat properly. As a result, weight loss is a common side effect of HIV.

A common infection associated with HIV is oral thrush, which is a fungal infection that causes inflammation and white patches on the tongue and inside the mouth.

Another viral infection that affects the mouth is oral hairy leukoplakia, which causes white lesions on the tongue.

Salmonella infection is transmitted through contaminated food or water, and it causes diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Anyone can get

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This infection affects the bile ducts and intestines and can be particularly severe. It can cause chronic diarrhea in people with AIDS.

While HIV generally does not directly infect nerve cells, it does infect the cells that support and surround nerves in the brain and throughout the body.

While the link between HIV and neurological damage is not completely understood, it is likely that infected supporting cells contribute to nerve injury.

Advanced HIV can cause nerve damage, also known as neuropathy. This most often leads to pain and numbness in the feet and hands.

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Small holes in the conduction sheaths of peripheral nerve fibers can cause pain, weakness and difficulty walking. This condition is known as vacuolar myelopathy.

There are serious neurological complications of AIDS. HIV and AIDS can cause HIV-related dementia, a condition that severely affects cognitive function.

Having a weakened immune system puts people with AIDS at increased risk of inflammation of the brain and spinal cord from this parasite. Symptoms include confusion, headaches and seizures. Seizures can also result from certain nervous system infections.

In very advanced cases, hallucinations and frank psychosis can occur. Some people may also experience headaches, balance or coordination problems, and vision problems.

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A weakened immune response leaves a person more vulnerable to viruses such as herpes. Herpes can cause people to develop sores around their mouth or genitals.

HIV also increases a person’s risk for shingles. The reactivation of herpes zoster, the virus that gives people chicken pox, causes shingles. The condition causes a painful rash, often with blisters.

A viral skin infection called molluscum contagiosum involves an outbreak of bumps on the skin. Another condition called prurigo nodularis causes crusty bumps on the skin as well as severe itching.

HIV can result in a range of symptoms, from mild flu-like symptoms in the early stages to neurological symptoms if the condition progresses to AIDS.

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Many of the effects described above are related to the immune system being continually compromised in the progression of HIV and AIDS.

However, many of these effects are preventable with antiretroviral treatment, which can maintain and repair the immune system.

A healthcare professional may recommend additional treatments, such as blood pressure medications or skin creams, to treat the effects of HIV and AIDS on other body systems.

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Our experts continuously monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles as new information becomes available. Blood cell disorders are conditions that affect any of your blood cells – these are your red and white blood cells, and even your platelets. All of these cells form in your bone marrow. While some disorders disrupt the function of one of these cells, they can also damage several blood cells and their given function. .

Below are some common benign blood conditions that affect one’s blood cells and platelets. To help our patients better understand each condition, we’ve included the symptoms, risk factors, means of diagnosis, and treatment options for each of these benign blood conditions.

What Is Anemia? Anemia is a blood cell disorder that affects the function of your red blood cells. If you suffer from anemia, your body lacks the healthy blood cells needed to carry oxygen to the rest of your body. Anemia is also sometimes referred to as low hemoglobin. .

The signs and symptoms related to anemia depend on the severity and type of anemia you have been diagnosed with. In addition, anemia can sometimes occur without symptoms. However, some symptoms that may be indicative of anemia include:

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Anemia is often linked to a lack of specific vitamins and minerals, chronic conditions and intestinal disorders. Additionally, other risk factors for anemia include pregnancy, menstruation, age, and a family history of anemia.

To diagnose anemia, our hematologists may recommend a full blood count (FBC), which will tell us about the level of red blood cells present in your blood.

If it is due to a dietary deficiency, supplementation of the deficient nutrients (folate, iron or vitamin B12) may be appropriate. If there are other causes, the treatment will have to be directed accordingly.

Iron deficiency anemia is a common form of anemia when the body has insufficient iron to produce hemoglobin.

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Some common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are general fatigue, unusual weakness, pale skin, tingling sensation in the legs, swelling and pain of the tongue, brittle nails and frequent headaches.

Iron deficiency anemia typically results from low food intake, blood loss, increased need for iron during pregnancy and reduced iron absorption from one’s diet. The risk factors for iron deficiency include age, genetic conditions and lifestyle.

Our hematologists may recommend a series of tests to diagnose iron deficiency anemia. These tests may include a full blood count (FBC), an iron profile, and additional diagnostic tests may be required, such as a colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule out any intestinal causes.

Treatment options for iron deficiency anemia may include oral iron supplements, intravenous iron infusion, and red blood cells.

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