Does Having Opportunistic Infections Mean I Have Hiv

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Strategies for Managing Opportunistic Infections

Introduction Opportunistic Infections and HIV Disease Preventing Infections in the First Place Treating Infections as They Occur Preventive Treatment for OIs Maintenance Therapy A Final Word on Strategies for Managing Opportunistic Infections List of AIDS-Defining OIs from the Centers for Disease Control Introduction HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus ) infects the cells of your body's immune system. It then impairs how...

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what is an opportunistic infection?

Hello. I have a couple of questions. My first is, What, exactly, is an opportunistic infection? I mean, does the fact that I am HIV+ make any malady I may have (be it the flu or shingles or whatever)an O.I.? Also, as I did recently (several days...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

An OI is one of a group of specific illnesses that occurs in people with damaged immune systems -- essentially, the germ that causes the OI is taking advantage of your weakened immunity, hence the term. Shingles is not an OI per se, since it occurs... Read more »

Help! I am having opportunistic infections

Dr. Conway:Are ARS symptoms lasting for more than 5 weeks and can they come gradually? I have started having a sore throat and white tongue 3 weeks after unprotected vaginal contacts with a HIV+ male, after that I had muscle and joint pains for the...

Response from Brian Conway, M.D.

University of British Columbia

Dear Anna:The symptoms you describe can be seen with acute HIV infection but are certainly not specific for it. Your doctor is right that the negative HIV antibody test at this stage is a good sign. You might consider having a test for HIV itself... Read more »

Antibodies of opportunistic infections

I am Hiv-positive, recently infected, with normal CD4 counts, healthy and asymptomatic, on no medication.I know from some analysis years ago that I give positive also to Mantoux test forTB, to citomegalovirus and to toxoplasmosis antibodies. I am...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

Let's deal with one test at a time: The positive Mantoux test for TB: This means that you have been exposed to tuberculosis. It means that there somewhere in your lungs, there are a few tuberculosis bacteria that are being effectively... Read more »

Opportunistic infections with HIV

What explains the differences in the incidence of opportunistic infections in clients with HIV?...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

No one knows for certain but it's probably due to inherent differences in the disease-causing ability ("pathogenicity") of the organism. TB is virulent enough to cause disease in people with normal immune systems, but another... Read more »

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Opportunistic Infections

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

Would you say that a reoccuring itchy rash on the lower back/base of spine (large(ish), flat, red and very itchy) 5-6 months after possible exposure (protected vaginal sex with a sex worker) was anything to worry about? I have shown my Doctor and... Read more »

Question for Dr Ryan: Opportunistic Infections

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hello Dr Ryan,
Thanks for taking some time to help us out in this forum. I sincerely appreciate it. After a high risk activity 2 years ago, followed by a very sick period with symptoms simliar to flu/mono 3-4 weeks later, I was convinced I had... Read more »

Esophagitis as opportunistic infection

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I am wonering if anyone can tell me if Esophagitis can occur within 1st year of acquiring HIV infection. Please, I am extremely scared and I would appericiate an answer.

Thanks,
Nate Read more »

Opportunistic Infections??

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I had a risky situation approx 2 years ago. I have been relatively healthy since then but have become overcome with thoughts of hiv. Is it possible to have an opportunistic infection without having other symptoms. I have never had a fever, night... Read more »

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