Editing Misconceptions about HIV/AIDS (section)

====The spectrum of AIDS-related infections seen in different populations proves that AIDS is actually many diseases not caused by HIV====
[[File:Pneumocystis jiroveci infection (3833203709).jpg|thumb|[[Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia|''Pneumocystis jiroveci'' pneumonia]] ]]
[[File:Bacteria on Warthin–Starry stain.jpg|thumb|[[Mycobacterium avium complex|''Mycobacterium avium'' complex]] ]]
The diseases associated with AIDS, such as [[Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia|''Pneumocystis jiroveci'' pneumonia]] (PCP) and [[Mycobacterium avium complex|''Mycobacterium avium'' complex]] (MAC), are not caused by HIV, but rather result from the immunosuppression caused by HIV disease. As the immune system of an HIV-infected individual weakens, he or she becomes susceptible to the particular [[virus|viral]], [[fungus|fungal]], and [[bacteria]]l infections common in the community. For example, HIV-infected people in the [[Midwestern United States]] are much more likely than people in [[New York City]] to develop [[histoplasmosis]], which is caused by a fungus. A person in Africa is exposed to pathogens different from individuals in an American city. Children may be exposed to different infectious agents compared to adults.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://hivatis.org/guidelines/op_infections/OI_112801.html |title=USPHS/IDSA }}</ref>

HIV is the underlying cause of the condition named AIDS, but the additional conditions that may affect an AIDS patient are dependent upon the [[endemic (epidemiology)|endemic]] [[pathogens]] to which the patient may be exposed.{{cn|date=January 2021}}