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Summary: Fungus Might Give Sign Of A.I.D.S. Attack (Press, 14 August 1984)
A study conducted by a group of researchers in New York has suggested that an uncommon fungal infection in the mouth, known as oral candidiasis, could serve as a predictive marker for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (A.I.D.S.). The findings may enable physicians to act earlier in providing care for individuals who are likely to develop this severe immune disorder. Previously, doctors have relied on a range of symptoms including fever, weight loss, and diarrhoea to predict the onset of A.I.D.S.; however, many patients exhibiting these symptoms do not go on to develop the disease. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined 22 patients who presented with oral candidiasis. Of these, 59 per cent were diagnosed with A.I.D.S. within a timeframe of one to 23 months. Conversely, none of the patients who displayed other common symptoms progressed to develop the syndrome, despite being monitored for periods ranging from five to 21 months. The researchers—affiliated with Montefiore Medical Centre, North Central Bronx Hospital, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine—concluded that the presence of this uncommon fungal infection might be a significant indicator of the likelihood of developing serious opportunistic infections, which are a defining characteristic of A.I.D.S. They noted that the unexplained occurrence of oral candidiasis could offer vital insights into the underlying causes of A.I.D.S. and the efficacy of various treatment strategies. Since the identification of A.I.D.S. in the United States, there have been over 3,000 reported cases of the disease, with more than 80 per cent of those affected dying within three years. The disease predominantly affects homosexual men and intravenous drug users. Concurrent research in France and the United States has pointed towards a virus that could potentially be implicated in the development of A.I.D.S. This new insight into oral candidiasis as a predictive factor for the disease could shift the focus of early diagnosis and treatment options.
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