What Are Opportunistic Infections?
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 or people receiving chemotherapy.
Having HIV/AIDS weakens your body's immune system. It destroys the white blood cells that fight infection. This puts you at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs). OIs are serious infections that take advantage of your weak immune system. These infections are less common and less severe in healthy people.
Types of Opportunistic infections
OI-causing germs can spread in the air; in saliva, semen, blood, urine, or feces (poop); or in contaminated food and water. Here are examples of common HIV-related OIs:
Bacterial infections, including Salmonella infection, tuberculosis and a serious related disease, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
Viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus
Fungal infections, like yeast infections, cryptococcal meningitis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and histoplasmosis
Parasitic infections, such as crypto (cryptosporidio
Having HIV/AIDS can make infections harder to treat. People with HIV/AIDS are also more likely to have complications from common illnesses such as the flu.
Viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus
Fungal infections, like yeast infections, cryptococcal meningitis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and histoplasmosis
Parasitic infections, such as crypto (cryptosporidio
Having HIV/AIDS can make infections harder to treat. People with HIV/AIDS are also more likely to have complications from common illnesses such as the flu.
Prevention
You can help prevent infections by taking your HIV/AIDS medicines.
Other things that can help include
Practicing safe sex
Washing your hands well and often
Avoid contact with the germs that can cause OIs
The germs that can cause OIs can spread in the feces of people and animals. To prevent OIs, don’t touch animal feces. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water after touching anything soiled with human feces, for example, a dirty diaper.
Washing your hands well and often
Avoid contact with the germs that can cause OIs
The germs that can cause OIs can spread in the feces of people and animals. To prevent OIs, don’t touch animal feces. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water after touching anything soiled with human feces, for example, a dirty diaper.
Be careful about what you eat and drink
Food and water can be contaminated with OI-causing germs. To be safe, don’t eat or drink the following foods:
Food and water can be contaminated with OI-causing germs. To be safe, don’t eat or drink the following foods:
Raw or undercooked eggs, for example, in homemade mayonnaise or uncooked cookie dough
Raw or undercooked poultry, meat, and seafood (especially raw shellfish)
Unpasteurized milk, cheeses, and fruit juices
Raw seed sprouts, such as alfalfa sprouts or mung bean sprouts
Only drink tap water, filtered water, or bottled water. Don’t drink water directly from a lake or river.
Travel safely
If you are visiting a foreign country, avoid eating food and drinking water that could make you sick.
Raw or undercooked poultry, meat, and seafood (especially raw shellfish)
Unpasteurized milk, cheeses, and fruit juices
Raw seed sprouts, such as alfalfa sprouts or mung bean sprouts
Only drink tap water, filtered water, or bottled water. Don’t drink water directly from a lake or river.
Travel safely
If you are visiting a foreign country, avoid eating food and drinking water that could make you sick.
Get vaccinated
Vaccines are products that protect people from diseases such as chicken pox, influenza (flu), and polio. Some vaccines can prevent HIV-related OIs. For example, people with HIV can get vaccinated to prevent pneumonia.
Vaccines are products that protect people from diseases such as chicken pox, influenza (flu), and polio. Some vaccines can prevent HIV-related OIs. For example, people with HIV can get vaccinated to prevent pneumonia.
Can Opportunistic Infections be treated?.......
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