Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is the most common cancer seen in HIV. This cancer is caused by the human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8). The virus can be spread by deep kissing, unprotected sex, and sharing needles. It also can be spread from mother to child.
Symptoms include brown, purple, or pink lesions (or blotches) on the skin, usually on the arms and legs, neck or head, and sometimes in the mouth. Sometimes there is tooth pain or tooth loss, weight loss, night sweats, or fever for longer than 2 weeks. KS can also affect internal organs, most seriously the lungs. A person can have KS of their internal organs even if they don't have lesions on their skin. HIV drugs can slow the growth of lesions, even reverse the condition itself. KS has become less common and much more treatable since the development of effective combination HIV therapy. Other treatments for KS, such as laser therapy, are meant to relieve symptoms and improve the appearance of the lesions. There is also chemotherapy that helps control KS. It's important that people with KS keep lesions clean. They should call their provider if the lesions are spreading, if swelling gets worse, or if they develop a cough, shortness of breath, or problems in the gut.
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