What Systems Of The Body Are Most Affected By Opportunistic Infections

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What Are Opportunistic Infections?

Table of Contents Basic Facts Preventing and Treating OIs OIs and Women Most Common Opportunistic Infections (OIs) in HIV+ People Basic Facts While many viruses can be controlled by the immune system, HIV targets andinfects the same immune system cells that are supposed to protect us fromillnesses. These are a type of white blood cell called CD4 cells. HIV takes over CD4 cells and turns them into virusfactories that produce...

Ask the Experts

Explain opportunistic infection

Is it true that if you are experiencing an opportunistic infection at the time you are tested, ex) thrush and your results are negative, that the reason of the infection is not HIV. Thanks!!!...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Some people may have very low T cells soon after they are infected and may get an OI because of the low T cells but may not yet developed a positive HIV test. The HIV test depends on your body making proteins (antibodies) that recognize HIV, and it... 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 Infection Change

Hello, Body positive experts! A powerpoint slide presentation on the Internet, from the NIH, mentioned that the OI "PCP" was changed to "pneumocystis jiroveci", after a Czech pathologist. Yet, as an educator for the Philadelphia...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

The official name as changed as you highlight but the abbreviation for now (PCP) is staying the same. In the future you will be seeing the new name more and more. KH... Read more »

Opportunistic Infections

Dear Mr. Sowadsky, Do opportunistic infections such as skin disorders (fungal, bacterial, noninfectious, dry skin, herpes) occur with recent HIV infection or do they take many years to develop as a result of a damaged immune system?...

Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H.

Nevada State Health Division AIDS Program

Hi. Thank you for your question. By definition, an "Opportunistic Infection" is an infection that most often causes illness, when there is a damaged or weakened immune system. Damage to the immune system (due to HIV) does not usually... Read more »

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Could i be having an opportunistic infection

Posted by bmkm, 3 Replies

Hi. I had protected vaginal sex with a stranger in Sep 2011. At that time i had my finger in her vagina. 6-7 weeks after that i was in Hospital for muscle breakdown which was caused due to untreated undiagnosed HypoThyroid. When at Hospital they... 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 »

I may have an opportunistic infection

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I'm so grateful for this forum. I have not been diagnosed with HIV (yet?) but I did get a blood test today and will find out the results Friday (12/3). Here's why I'm concerned. Yesterday I went to my dentist for a routine teeth cleaning. I have... 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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