{"id":4413,"date":"2019-04-26T10:02:12","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T10:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/?page_id=4413"},"modified":"2023-03-19T14:41:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T14:41:42","slug":"aids-related-opportunistic-infections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/aids-related-opportunistic-infections\/","title":{"rendered":"AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>AIDS-Related <span id=\"urn:enhancement-09efb15e-479a-4553-a33b-67515a7df531\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">Opportunistic Infections<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"urn:enhancement-5e51b951-4751-4dad-97d7-92a6b2a80f4b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> means human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the immune system of the body. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-80b23812-3e0e-4fc5-8008-242fdab1fe91\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-creative-work\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/aids\">AIDS<\/span> is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is the final stage of <span id=\"urn:enhancement-1357e526-53d7-4cb4-a031-4f61c16dac7f\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span>. This is the result of the individual\u2019s immune system drastically affected thus becoming vulnerable to the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-7a624a65-bf02-4e4d-8e20-d878f090fd56\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">opportunistic infections<\/span>. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-40612d6c-21d3-4237-8f63-88d977486f26\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> particularly affects the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-141505a2-41b3-4f05-a40a-da8cc63d2c3d\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/cd4\">CD4<\/span> cells which are essential for the immune system to effectively fight off infections. When the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-62d0c553-2fdf-46d1-a2e8-00cab26ef5fa\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/cd4\">CD4<\/span> level falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood, the individual is considered to have AIDS. <span id=\"urn:enhancement-a04fe0cf-ff4c-49bf-ac86-f704f838d22f\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> cases can also be considered to have progressed to AIDS when they become affected with one or more <span id=\"urn:enhancement-d4817d94-906c-4b6d-99de-e02cfe6d01d8\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">opportunistic infections<\/span> (OI). There is no effective cure available for <span id=\"urn:enhancement-a4e04bce-1540-4da7-8bd0-0a5f440ead78\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> but it can be controlled with the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-8ccc4fa4-8adb-42c0-b854-926632e4be83\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-creative-work\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/antiretroviral-therapy\">antiretroviral therapy<\/span>. The <span id=\"urn:enhancement-08909f84-d9e2-4cdf-a1c6-5a28623f9deb\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> treatment can assist in restoring the affected immune system. The following list is an indication of some of the common <span id=\"urn:enhancement-336138a4-134f-4a94-a45f-0f393afc399f\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">opportunistic infections<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-dadd641a-6014-4dd0-963e-d0f05fc3b60d\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/candidiasis\">Candidiasis<\/span> of <span id=\"urn:enhancement-a7d570b1-e930-469c-8fc2-d712b5b3f5c4\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/bronchial-tubes\">bronchi<\/span>, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-bc1b7ea7-2364-4ac8-806c-41c8af951870\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/trachea\">trachea<\/span>, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-5292e519-08cb-4c0e-a8d9-dc467b2e1670\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/esophagus\">esophagus<\/span> or lungs<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This infection is caused by the common type of fungus known as candida. In individuals affected with <span id=\"urn:enhancement-1acd79fc-1930-43ca-a940-e3c9192b42f1\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span>, infections caused by candida are only considered as OI when the lower <span id=\"urn:enhancement-5ab106d3-c929-4b49-aa21-edfa28a9f497\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/respiratory-tract\">respiratory tract<\/span> is affected which includes bronchi, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-84dabae2-a27e-4f1d-b442-c276a8c0f0eb\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/esophagus\">esophagus<\/span> and deep lung tissues.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-b23cb2ec-9038-42bf-82d7-4f0aa7a6f91b\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/cryptococcosis\">Cryptococcosis<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fungus cryptococcus neoformans commonly affects the skin, bones and the urinary tract. It can also develop <span id=\"urn:enhancement-7c76efd6-eb8d-4992-a03b-f51b13495ccd\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/pneumonia\">pneumonia<\/span> and swelling of the brain.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-a507f535-623e-47a2-a75a-ba712598ba50\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/histoplasmosis\">Histoplasmosis<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fungus histoplasma capsulatum usually involves the lungs resulting in symptoms similar to <span id=\"urn:enhancement-ca6fd6f8-faa9-430e-8261-138899009160\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/pneumonia\">pneumonia<\/span> and <span id=\"urn:enhancement-2947710f-30a4-4e94-9b26-006ce6e56aaf\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/influenza\">influenza<\/span>. Immunity compromised individuals can become severely affected with this condition involving various organs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Isosporiasis, chronic intestinal<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This infection can enter the body by the consumption of contaminated food or water. Some of the symptoms include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss and vomiting.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-38153dcb-4455-47f0-bb98-4caf2caac1c2\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/lymphoma\">Lymphoma<\/span>, multiple forms<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is the cancer of the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-f3c4e6a0-cb0c-45b9-9e00-c2a0a649fb21\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/lymph-nodes\">lymph nodes<\/span> and other lymphoid tissues. The kind of lymphoma affecting the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-329b9dd7-08e6-4856-9275-83a480608b87\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> patients includes non-hodgkin and hodgkin.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-946119e6-1df9-4bf4-8e6d-6857f8a50c70\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/tuberculosis\">Tuberculosis<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This infection is caused by the bacteria mycobacterium <span id=\"urn:enhancement-9758766b-dd0b-40dc-9339-889ecfd08242\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/tuberculosis\">tuberculosis<\/span> and can be airborne when an active TB individual cough or sneeze. Though <span id=\"urn:enhancement-09886c7d-21c7-4920-8998-446445d14ac3\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/tuberculosis\">tuberculosis<\/span> normally develops in the lungs, the other parts that commonly are affected include kidneys, <span id=\"urn:enhancement-89349ca3-460b-4183-b7b8-49e1187b1034\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/lymph-nodes\">lymph nodes<\/span> and <span id=\"urn:enhancement-293e0f8c-2b18-4956-af4a-0f4258b2572f\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/larynx\">larynx<\/span>. The symptoms consist of fatigue, coughing, fever and weight loss.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:local-text-annotation-sqe0ifglg1qlceqq2d9k1kco3tay88xd\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-article\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/pneumocystis-carinii-pneumonia\">Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia<\/span>(PCP)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This lung infection particularly occurs in people with weak immune system. The initial symptoms include breathing problems, dry cough and high fever.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-78456d63-89e5-4592-bdf9-399435137755\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/progressive-multifocal-leukoencephalopathy\">Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The JV virus causes the rare brain and spinal cord infection and mainly occurs in people whose immune system is severely affected. The symptoms include paralysis, altered mental state, speech problems and blindness.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-2caf5d45-0941-4822-ae90-e8e7ee89a077\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/salmonella\">Salmonella<\/span> <span id=\"urn:enhancement-49afb128-f453-421a-92a6-becf4422889c\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/septicemia\">septicemia<\/span>, recurrent<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This infection occurs in individuals who consume contaminated food or water. In normal individuals, this infection can be self-limiting. However, those with weak immune system, the infection can become severe affecting the entire body.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span id=\"urn:enhancement-a47bb216-39a7-4ee6-8242-36bd813b31f4\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/toxoplasmosis\">Toxoplasmosis<\/span> of brain<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is carried by animals such as cats, rodents and is excreted in their feces. People may become infected by consuming food contaminated with the parasite. This can affect the lungs, pancreas, heart, the eyes, testes and the brain.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When an individual has developed <span id=\"urn:enhancement-17670ce6-5e4f-4fa8-9522-5bc400e4a020\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">opportunistic infections<\/span>, this is an indication that the immune system is compromised and the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-9e5edffd-a751-457a-80f9-2b13d56162dc\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> is not under control. The treatment of <span id=\"urn:enhancement-3c1197e6-5032-471f-a02d-bceb692bf90a\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">opportunistic infections<\/span> can consist of antibiotics and antifungal medications.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prevention<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the best methods of preventing opportunistic infection is by taking the <span id=\"urn:enhancement-268c8394-b060-4a14-88de-6594391dde51\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/hiv\">HIV<\/span> medication as prescribed and keeping the immune system as healthy as possible. It is also essential these individuals get regular check-ups. Some preventive methods of getting <span id=\"urn:enhancement-1d5097be-e8f6-42eb-9a43-060dfac62e99\" class=\"textannotation disambiguated wl-thing\" itemid=\"https:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl1503301\/entity\/opportunistic-infections\">opportunistic infections<\/span> can include getting vaccinated, use of condoms, ensuring the consumption of hygienically cooked food, drinking treated water and avoiding exposure to people with an infectious disease.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hiv\/basics\/livingwithhiv\/opportunisticinfections.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hiv\/basics\/livingwithhiv\/opportunisticinfections.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aids.gov\/hiv-aids-basics\/staying-healthy-with-hiv-aids\/potential-related-health-problems\/opportunistic-infections\/\">https:\/\/www.aids.gov\/hiv-aids-basics\/staying-healthy-with-hiv-aids\/potential-related-health-problems\/opportunistic-infections\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aidsinfonet.org\/fact_sheets\/view\/500\">http:\/\/www.aidsinfonet.org\/fact_sheets\/view\/500<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections HIV means human immunodeficiency virus that attacks the immune system of the body. AIDS is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is the final stage of HIV. This is the result of the individual\u2019s immune system drastically affected thus becoming vulnerable to the opportunistic infections. HIV particularly affects the CD4 cells which are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4413","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}