Diagnosis of clinical AIDS can be difficult for clinicians in Africa, where there is only limited access to the sophisticated bacteriological diagnostic facilities needed for diagnoses based on the criteria laid down by the Center for Disease Control in the US. The most common presentation of AIDS in Africa is as an enteropathic condition known as 'Slim.' Based on this and other common presentations of the disease in Africa, a group of clinicians in Bangui, Central African Republic, drew up a list of criteria for the diagnosis of AIDS in Africa which are based on patient history and examination and the exclusion of other conditions rather than on serological confirmation of HIV infection. The major criteria are 1) unexplained fever for longer than 1 month; 2) unexplained diarrhea for longer than 1 month; and 3) weight loss greater than 10% of previous weight. Minor symptoms are presence of a maculopapular rash, oral candidiasis or thrush, herpes zoster or shingles, aggressive or uncontrollable herpes simplex, unexplained cough for longer than 1 month, or enlarged lymph nodes in more than 1 extrainguinal site. The finding of 2 major symptoms and at least 1 minor one is enough for diagnosis. These criteria have been found to be useful. However, they do not cover all the presentations which have been associated with AIDS. Unusual presentations of HIV infected persons which have been seen in Africa include serially developing abscesses in pyomyositis, gall bladder diseases, pericarditis or myocarditis, diseases of the Central Nervous System (cryptococcal meningitis, toxoplasmosis, non-specific leuko-encephalitis, atraumatic paraplegia, acute psychosis or chronic deterioration in mental capacity, lymphoma of the brain), prodromal illnesses, swollen lymph nodes, herpes zoster or shingles in young adults, or tumours of the lymphatic system. Differential diagnosis is extremely important.
