Final answer:
Possible infection indicators in an individual with AIDS include persistent fever, fatigue, chills with night sweats, weight loss, swollen lymph glands, opportunistic infections like Pneumocystis pneumonia and tuberculosis, rare cancers like Kaposi's sarcoma, and conditions such as wasting syndrome and dementia complex.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a person has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), there are several assessment findings that could indicate a possible infection. These include persistent fever, prolonged fatigue, recurrent bouts of chills and night sweats, weight loss, swollen lymph glands, and general feelings of weakness. One may also observe signs of opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis pneumonia, tuberculosis, and toxoplasmosis, which take advantage of the weakened immune system. Additionally, rare cancers like Kaposi's sarcoma and conditions like wasting syndrome and dementia complex can occur.
It is important to note that patients with a CD4 T-cell count below 200 cells/μL or who develop certain opportunistic illnesses are diagnosed with AIDS. These symptoms and conditions are a direct result of the severe damage HIV causes to the immune system, leading to a high viral load and increased infectiousness, significantly decreasing life expectancy if left untreated.