Opportunistic Infections in HIV - Topic Overview
Opportunistic infections and diseases occur in people whose immune systems have been weakened. They usually do not occur in people who have healthy immune systems. When the immune system is weakened by a disease such as HIV infection, opportunistic diseases may cause serious, even life-threatening, illnesses.
Opportunistic infections that are common in people who have AIDS include:
Caring for Someone With HIV or AIDS
Caring for a loved one with AIDS can be an exhausting task, both physically and emotionally. It involves managing the physical and practical aspects of your loved one’s care while struggling with the emotions of seeing someone you care for suffer and fearing the eventual outcome of the disease. It also requires taking care of yourself -- managing the stresses of caregiving and keeping yourself healthy -- so you can provide the care your loved one needs. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)...
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- Pneumocystis pneumonia.
- Tuberculosis.
- Toxoplasmosis.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV).
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC).
People who have AIDS are more likely to develop certain cancers, such as:
- Kaposi's sarcoma.
- Cancer of the lymphatic system (lymphoma).
- Cancer of the cervix.
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