Question

Would you predict patients with AIDS to develop fever in response to an infection?

Answer 1

Patients with AIDS do develop fever in response to infection, although often not to the same degree as normal individuals. This is because fever is primarily caused by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and other cytokines secreted by macrophages, which act to raise the body’s temperature set point. In AIDS, the main immune defect is the failure of helper T-cell function, but macrophages still secrete these pyrogens, so fever can still occur, though it may be less pronounced.