HIV/AIDS (Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is classified by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) into category A (asymptomatic, acute primary HIV or PGL or persistent generalized lymphadenopathy), category B (symptomatic, but not A or C of this classification) & category C (AIDS indicator conditions) based on CD4+ T lymphocyte counts.
Category A:
This category consists of conditions listed below in an adolescent or adult (more than 13 years) with confirmed HIV infection. Conditions listed in categories B and C should not have occurred.
1. Asymptomatic HIV infection.
2. Acute (primary) HIV infection with accompanying illness.
3. Progressive generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL).
Category B:
This category consists of conditions in an HIV-infected individual (adolescent or adult) that are not included among conditions listed in clinical category C below and also it present at least one of the following conditions:
- Oropharyngeal candidiasis also known as thrush.
- Candidiasis (vulvovaginal) or candidiasis which is persistent, occurs frequently, or poor response to therapy.
- Cervical carcinoma in situ or moderate to severe cervical dysplasia.
- Constitutional symptoms like fever (38.5°C) or diarrhea lasting more than one month.
- Herpes zoster or shingles that involve at least two distinct dermatomes.
- Oral hairy leukoplakia.
There are many more examples which can indicate category B HIV/AIDS, although not included here.
Category C:
This category includes the clinical conditions that are included in the AIDS surveillance case definition.
1. Candidiasis of bronchi, trachea, lungs or esophagus.
2. Cervical cancer.
3. Fungal infections like extrapulmonary cryptococcosis, chronic intestinal cryptosporidiosis of more than 1 month’s duration, disseminated or extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis, disseminated or extrapulmonary histoplasmosis etc.
4. Loss of vision due to cytomegalovirus retinitis.
5.Kaposi’s sarcoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma, primary lymphoma of brain etc.
6. HIV-related encephalopathy.
7. Disseminated or extrapulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex or M. kansasii.
8. Pneumocystis jiroveci (previously P. carinii) pneumonia.
9. Wasting syndrome due to HIV.
10. Pulmonary or extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
There are some other uncommon clinical conditions that are not included here but can be categorized under category C.
