HIV can eventually cause AIDS by attacking a type of white blood cell called a CD4 cell. CD4 cells are the same cells in the immune system that are supposed to protect the body from disease. When your immune system loses too many CD4 cells, you are less able to fight off infection and can develop serious illnesses, cancers, and neurological (nerve system) problems. These problems are called opportunistic infections (OIs) because they take advantage of the body’s weakened defenses.
Opportunistic infections (OIs) are infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems. People with weakened immune systems include people living with HIV.
OIs are caused by a variety of germs (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). OI-causing germs spread in a variety of ways, for example, in the air, in body fluids, or in contaminated food or water. Some OIs that people with HIV may get include candidiasis, Salmonella infection, toxoplasmosis, and tuberculosis (TB).
Today, OIs are less common in people with HIV because of effective HIV treatment. But some people with HIV still develop OIs because they may not know they have HIV, they may not be on HIV treatment, or their HIV treatment may not be working properly.
Many OIs are considered AIDS-defining conditions. That means if a person with HIV has one of these conditions, they are diagnosed with AIDS, the most serious stage of HIV infection.
OIs are caused by a variety of germs (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). These germs spread in different ways, such as in the air, in body fluids, or in contaminated food or water. They can cause health problems when a person’s immune system is weakened by HIV disease.
Once a person has HIV, the virus begins to multiply and damages the immune system. A weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to fight off OIs.
HIV medicines prevent HIV from damaging the immune system. But without treatment with HIV medicines, HIV can gradually destroy the immune system and advance to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Many OIs, for example, certain forms of pneumonia and TB, are considered AIDS-defining conditions, which are infections and cancers that are life-threatening in people with HIV.
People living with HIV are at greatest risk for OIs when their CD4 count falls below 200. However, some OIs can occur when a person’s CD4 count is below 500. That’s because weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to fight off HIV-related OIs.
If you develop an OI, there are treatments available such as antiviral, antibiotic, and antifungal drugs. The type of medicine used depends on the OI.
Once an OI is successfully treated, a person may continue to use the same medicine or an additional medicine to prevent the OI from coming back. Having an OI may be a very serious medical situation and its treatment can be challenging.
The best way to prevent OIs is to take HIV medication daily as prescribed so that you can get and keep an undetectable viral load and keep your immune system strong.
It is also important to stay in HIV medical care and get lab tests done. This will allow you and your health care provider to know when you might be at risk for OIs and discuss ways to prevent them.
There are also steps you can take to prevent getting OIs:
OIs are less common now than in the early days of HIV and AIDS when there was no treatment. Today’s HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) reduce the amount of HIV in a person’s body and keep the immune system stronger and better able to fight off infections.
However, OIs are still a problem for many people with HIV. Some people with HIV get OIs for the following reasons:
AIDS and Opportunistic Infections
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/opportunisticinfections.html
HIV and Opportunistic Infections, Coinfections, and Conditions
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/what-opportunistic-infection
Opportunistic Infections
What Are Opportunistic Infections?
https://www.thewellproject.org/hiv-information/what-are-opportunistic-infections
What Opportunistic Infections Do You Get With HIV?
https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/guide/aids-hiv-opportunistic-infections-stay-healthier
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