The reason
people are advised to go for early check-up, and even after testing positive to
HIV, are asked to begin treatments (antiretroviral therapy) as soon as possible
is to shut the doors on "opportunistic infections".
Opportunistic
infections in this context are like scavengers, who only prey on weakened or
about-to-die preys.
Opportunistic
infections are infections caused either by bacterial, viral, fungal, or
protozoan pathogens that take advantage of a host with a weakened immune system
(caused by HIV infection) or an altered microbiota (such as a disrupted gut
flora).
Antiretroviral
therapy is all about managing HIV infection, and preventing the body from
opportunistic infections, which in the end, leads to AIDS.
Most
life-threatening opportunistic infections occur when the person’s CD4 count is
very low (below 200 cells/mm).
Opportunistic
infections are a particular danger for people with AIDS.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF OPPORTUNISTIC
INFECTIONS?
The common
cause of opportunistic infections is immunodeficiency or immunosuppression, and
this can be caused by:
·
Malnutrition, fatigue, ageing, skin damage
·
Recurrent infections, advanced HIV infection
·
Chemotherapy for cancer, immunosuppressing agents
for organ transplant recipients
·
Genetic predisposition
·
Antibiotic treatment leading to disruption of
the physiological microbiome, thus allowing some microorganisms to outcompete
others and become pathogenic.
·
Leucopenia
·
The lack of or the disruption of normal vaginal
flora allows the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms and will cause
the opportunistic infection - bacterial vaginosis.
THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF OPPORTUNISTIC
INFECTIONS. . .
The following
are some of the opportunistic infections listed by the American Centre for
Disease Control:
·
Candidiasis of bronchi, trachea, esophagus, or lungs
·
Invasive cervical cancer
·
Coccidioidomycosis
·
Cryptococcosis
·
Cryptosporidiosis, chronic intestinal (greater than
1 month's duration)
·
Cytomegalovirus disease (particularly CMV retinitis)
·
Encephalopathy, HIV-related
·
Herpes simplex: chronic ulcer(s) (greater than 1
month's duration); or bronchitis, pneumonitis, or esophagitis
·
Histoplasmosis
·
Isosporiasis, chronic intestinal (greater than 1
month's duration)
·
Kaposi's sarcomav
·
Lymphoma, multiple forms
·
Mycobacterium avium complex
·
Tuberculosis
·
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
·
Pneumonia, recurrent
·
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
·
Salmonella septicemia, recurrent
·
Toxoplasmosis of brain
·
Wasting syndrome due to HIV
Anyone with
HIV and has one or more of these opportunistic infections will most likely be diagnosed
with AIDS, no matter what the person’s CD4 count happens to be.
PREVENTING OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS
The rates of opportunistic
infections have fallen drastically since the introduction of antiretroviral
therapies. However, opportunistic infections are still a problem, especially for
people who have not been tested for HIV.
The best way
to prevent getting opportunistic infections in patients with HIV, is starting
antiretroviral therapy, which is especially important for restoration of the
immune system and reduces the incidence of all opportunistic infections.
Sometimes, your
health care provider will also prescribe medications specifically to prevent
certain opportunistic infections.
By staying on
HIV medications, you can keep the amount of HIV in your body as low as possible
and keep your immune system healthy. It is especially important that you get regular
check-ups and take all of your medications as prescribed by your care giver.
It is
important to note that people who aren't HIV-infected can also develop
opportunistic infections if their immune systems are damaged. For example, many
drugs used to treat cancer suppress the immune system, thus increasing the risk
of people receiving cancer treatments of developing opportunistic infections
(depending on the type of treatment though).
#ITSABOUTTIME
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