&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;People with weakened immune systems include people living with HIV. HIV damages the immune system. A weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to fight off OIs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is an opportunistic infection?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;list-style-type: circle;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Opportunistic Infections are infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened&amp;nbsp;immune systems&amp;nbsp;than in people with healthy immune systems. People with weakened immune systems include people living with HIV.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;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&amp;nbsp;candidiasis,&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Salmonella&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;infection,&amp;nbsp;toxoplasmosis, and&amp;nbsp;tuberculosis (TB).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What are the common opportunistic infections among HIV patients?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;list-style-type: circle;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;HIV-related OIs include&amp;nbsp;pneumonia,&amp;nbsp;Salmonella&amp;nbsp;infection,&amp;nbsp;candidiasis,&amp;nbsp;toxoplasmosis, and&amp;nbsp;tuberculosis (TB).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;For people with HIV, the best protection against OIs is to take HIV medicines every day. HIV medicines prevent HIV from damaging the immune system. Because HIV medicines are now widely used in the United States, fewer people with HIV get OIs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;People with HIV often have trouble with&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Candida&lt;/em&gt;, especially in the mouth and vagina.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Opportunistic infections that occur at different CD4 counts:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;list-style-type: circle;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;CMV (cytomegalovirus) &amp;ndash; a viral infection that can cause permanent vision loss and blindness and can also affect other organs.&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;AT ANY CD4 COUNT&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The risk of TB is higher in HIV-positive people. This can occur at any CD4 count.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Kaposi&amp;rsquo;s Sarcoma (KS) can occur at any CD4 count, though the risk increases as the CD4 count drops below 350-500.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;CD4 COUNT BELOW 300&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Diarrhea from bacteria infections microsporidia and cryptosporidia.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Skin problems &amp;ndash; candida (thrush), dry skin, etc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;CD4 COUNT BELOW 200&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;PCP (fungal pneumonia) and chest infections.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Toxoplasmosis &amp;ndash; a parasitic infection that can cause brain lesions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;CD4 COUNT BELOW 100&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;MAI /MAC (mycobacterium avium complex) &amp;ndash; bacterial infections similar to TB.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Cryptococcus &amp;ndash; a fungal infection that can cause meningitis in the brain and PCP-like symptoms in the lungs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;CD4 COUNT BELOW 50&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;field&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;Why do people with HIV get OIs?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;list-style-type: circle;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li style=&quot;line-height: 16.5pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000000;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Once a person has HIV, the virus begins to multiply and damage the immune system. A weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to fight off OIs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;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&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;AIDS&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;. Many OIs, for example, certain forms of pneumonia&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;and TB, are considered&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;AIDS-defining conditions&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;. AIDS-defining conditions are infections and cancers that are life-threatening in people with HIV.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;field&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,sans-serif;&quot;&gt;What can people with HIV do to prevent getting an OI?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;list-style-type: circle;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;For people with HIV, the best protection against OIs is to take HIV medicines every day.&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 0in; line-height: 16.5pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;People living with HIV can also take the following steps to reduce their risk of getting an OI.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Avoid contact with the germs that can cause OIs.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #3366ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The germs that can cause OIs can spread in a variety of ways, including in body fluids or in feces. To avoid&amp;nbsp;sexually transmitted infections, use condoms every time you have sex. If you inject drugs, don&amp;rsquo;t share drug injection equipment. After any contact with human or animal feces, wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 0in; line-height: 16.5pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;Be careful about what you eat and drink.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #3366ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Food and water can be contaminated with OI-causing germs. To be safe, don&amp;rsquo;t eat certain foods, including undercooked eggs, unpasteurized dairy products or fruit juices, or raw seed sprouts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get vaccinated.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Talk to your health care provider about which vaccines you need.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;field&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &#39;Arial&#39;,sans-serif;&quot;&gt;Can OIs be treated?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;list-style-type: circle;&quot;&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;There are many medicines to treat HIV-related OIs, including&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;antiviral&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;antibiotic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;, and&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;antifunga&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/glossary/antifungal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;l&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;drugs. The type of medicine used depends on the OI.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 0in; line-height: 16.5pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;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.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Written by Dude Arnel Flores Lopez, BSN, RN&amp;nbsp; 14 April 2021&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Medically reviewed and updated by Dr.Deyn Natthakhet Yaemim, 10 April 2021&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000000;&quot;&gt;References:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/what-opportunistic-infection&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/opportunisticinfections.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 0in; line-height: 16.5pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Opportunistic infection among HIV positive Anonymous HIV Testing | Anonymous HIV Clinic Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai Thailand

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW

RELATED SERVICES