The most common opportunistic infections in people with HIV / aids

HIV / AIDS is a chronic infectious disease that attacks the immune system. If left untreated, the symptoms of HIV / AIDS will not only be more debilitating, they will also make you more susceptible to new infections from viruses, bacteria, or other parasites. The complications of HIV / AIDS associated with the emergence of various other infections are known as opportunistic infections.

What is an opportunistic infection?

The cause of HIV disease is a viral infection called the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is a type of virus that attacks and destroys CD4 cells in the immune system.

CD4 cells or T cells are a type of white blood cell whose specific task is to fight infection by various kinds of harmful microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, etc.).

Under normal circumstances, humans should be able to continue to produce thousands to millions of T cells to support the immune system. However, the virus that causes HIV will continue to multiply and damage the immune system. As a result, someone who is infected with HIV will have a weaker immune system than a healthy person.

Without good treatment, the weakening of the body's resistance in the long term makes people vulnerable to the risk of infection. An infection with HIV is referred to as an opportunistic infection because the various microbes that cause it (bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other viruses) appear to take the opportunity while the body's immune system is weak.

Opportunistic infections are prone to occur in people with AIDS

HIV is considered a lifelong disease. Having an opportunistic infection means that it is likely that your HIV infection stage is advanced, aka at the AIDS stage (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

In the AIDS phase, the number of CD4 cells has dropped dramatically to below 200. That way, the body will have difficulty fighting infection because the number of CD4 cells is very low in the blood. It may even be far behind the number of bad microbes, both the HIV virus itself and other bad pathogens.

That is why the emergence of opportunistic infections in people with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) cannot be easily resisted. As a result, these complications can rapidly reduce the patient's health condition.

In some cases, opportunistic infections can begin when the CD4 cell count is “still” around 500 cells / mm 3.

Opportunistic infections are susceptible to attack PLWHA

Opportunistic infections are caused by infection with various germs such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites that take place in the body. Transmission of the disease can be through different ways, including through air, body fluids, and through food and drink.

Here are some opportunistic infections that can occur in people with HIV / AIDS. Knowing this health risk can be one way to protect yourself from the threat of further disease complications.

1. Candidiasis

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a fungus Candida . Opportunistic candidiasis infection is quite common in HIV patients with CD4 counts between 200-500 cells / mm3 blood sample.

Mushroom Candida is a species that commonly lives in the human body, and is usually harmless. However, the weakened immune system due to chronic HIV can cause the jamr to multiply malignantly, leading to infection.

Candidiasis infection can affect the skin, nails, and mucous membranes all over the body, especially in the mouth and vagina. However, candidiasis is only considered an opportunistic infection when it infects the esophagus (esophagus), lower respiratory tract, or deeper lung tissue.

The most obvious symptoms that arise from this opportunist infection are white spots or patches on the tongue or throat. White patches due to candidiasis can be treated with antifungal drugs that doctors prescribe.

Maintaining good hygiene, including brushing your teeth and rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash, can help prevent opportunistic candidiasis infections.

2.Lung infection (pneumocystis)

Pneumocystis infection (pneumonia) is one of the most serious opportunistic infections for people with HIV / AIDS.

This infection can be caused by many different types of pathogens, such as fungi Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococus neoformans, Histoplasmosis, Pneumocystis jirovecii ; some bacteria like Pneumococcus ; and some viruses such as cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex.

Symptoms of an opportunistic lung infection can include coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. However, the infection can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body. Opportunistic infections with the fungus crytococcus neoformans, for example, can spread to the skin, bones, or urinary tract. Sometimes pneumonia can spread to the brain, causing swelling of the brain (meningitis).

The good news is, this infection can be prevented with vaccines and treated with antibiotics. All PLHIV who are at risk of developing opportunistic infections related to lung inflammation should be vaccinated before it is too late. The reason is, complications in the form of pneumonia (PCP) are the main cause of death among advanced HIV patients.

Currently there are vaccines that are effective at preventing opportunistic infections from bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. Treatment for pulmonary infections must be started quickly in order to give the patient the best chance of recovery.

3. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB / TBC) is an opportunistic lung infection caused by a bacterium named Mycobacterium. Symptoms of TB can include coughing, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.

In fact, almost all HIV sufferers already have TB bacteria in their bodies even though they are not necessarily active.

TB can be a serious complication in people with HIV / AIDS because the TB bacteria can become active more quickly and are difficult to treat in PLWHA than in healthy people.

An opportunistic infection in the form of tuberculosis can also affect other parts of the body, often the lymph nodes, brain, kidneys or bones. That's why every PLWHA must undergo a TB test as early as possible to find out how much the risk is.

5. Herpes simplex

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a virus that causes genital herpes. Herpes is characterized by the appearance of genital warts and canker sores on the mouth and lips.

Everyone can get herpes, but people with HIV are more likely to develop opportunistic herpes infections with more severe symptoms.

In people with HIV / AIDS, complications of herpes are not only the formation of genital warts but also the risk of pneumonia and cervical cancer.

According to the CDC, opportunistic infections by HSV can also endanger the safety of the fetus in the womb if pregnant women have HIV. Herpes viruses and HIV can be transmitted through childbirth.

6. Salmonella septicemia

Salmonella is an infection that can be acquired through the consumption of food contaminated with the bacteria Salmonella typhii (Salmonella tp). Salmonella infection can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In people with HIV / AIDS, the danger of this infection can develop into septicemia. Septicemia is a blood condition where large amounts of bacteria are poisoned. When it is very severe, salmonella bacteria in the blood can infect the whole body at one time. Shock due to salmonella septicemia can be fatal.

7. Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a complication of HIV / AIDS caused by a named parasite Toxoplasma gondii .

Toxoplasmosis is dangerous for people with HIV and AIDS because it is very easy to develop in a body with a weak immune system. These parasites can infect not only the eyes and lungs of people with HIV, but also danger to the heart, liver and brain. When the toxoplasma parasite infection has reached the brain, toxoplasmosis can cause seizures.

Apart from animal waste, this opportunistic infection can also come from eating undercooked meat contaminated with the toxoplasma parasite.

8. Digestive infections

As the immune system weakens, the digestive system can also become infected. Some examples of parasitic infections that can be dangerous for people with HIV / AIDS are cryptosporidiosis and isosporiasis.

These two types of infections are caused by the consumption of food and / or drinks contaminated with parasites. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by parasites Cryptosporidium which attacks the intestines, while isosporiasis is caused by protozoa Isospora belli .

Both cryptosporidiosis and isosporiasis cause fever, vomiting and severe diarrhea. In people with HIV / AIDS, complications of this disease can cause drastic weight loss.

The reason is, these organisms infect the cells lining the small intestine which can cause the body to be unable to absorb nutrients properly.

How to prevent opportunistic infections

Opportunistic infections can be detected by checking the CD4 content in the blood of a person infected with HIV.

The best way to prevent opportunistic infections is to adhere to medication and therapy as recommended by your doctor.

HIV treatment with antiretrovirals can be a way to prevent and treat the symptoms of diseases that lead to opportunistic infections.

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