What is a common symptom of toxoplasmosis in patients with HIV?

In patients with HIV, particularly those with a low CD4 count, toxoplasmosis can manifest as a central nervous system infection. A common symptom is fever and confusion, often associated with neurological deficits or focal signs due to the formation of brain lesions. This condition arises from reactivation of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection, which is prevalent among immunocompromised individuals.

Fever is a nonspecific response to infection or inflammation, while confusion may indicate a disturbance in consciousness or cognitive function, often related to cerebral involvement. In toxoplasmosis, patients may also present with other neurological symptoms such as seizures or focal neurological deficits depending on the location of the lesions in the brain.

The other symptoms listed, like severe cough, jaundice, and peripheral neuropathy, are less characteristic of toxoplasmosis in the context of HIV. Severe cough is typically associated with respiratory infections, jaundice more frequently points toward liver pathologies or hemolysis, and peripheral neuropathy can have various causes not directly linked to toxoplasmosis itself.