When to worry about unintentional weight loss with HIV infection

HIV infection can affect weight through reduced appetite, ongoing inflammation, digestive symptoms, infections, or difficulty absorbing nutrients. Mouth or swallowing problems may make food uncomfortable, and some medicines can cause nausea or other eating difficulties. Weight loss may therefore reflect a treatable issue, a need to review HIV control, or a separate illness. It should be assessed in the context of your treatment and overall health.

Contact your HIV clinic and describe the weight trend, appetite, bowel symptoms, fever, night sweats, mouth problems, and every medicine or supplement you take. Continue antiretroviral treatment as prescribed; do not stop it because of weight change without speaking to the team. Ask about a nutrition review and choose tolerated, nourishing foods while waiting for advice. Keep appointments and bring your symptom notes.

Seek urgent care if you have severe breathlessness, confusion, fainting, severe dehydration, persistent vomiting, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening weakness. Prompt assessment is also needed for ongoing fever, severe diarrhoea, or difficulty swallowing, particularly when these symptoms prevent adequate food or fluid intake.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest an infection, treatment effect, or another cause, and whether your monitoring tests need review. Ask for help with nausea, diarrhoea, mouth symptoms, food access, and dietitian support.