Opportunistic Infections

HIV doesn't kill anybody directly. Instead, it weakens the body's ability to fight disease. Infections which are rarely seen in those with with normal immune systems are deadly to those with HIV. People with HIV can get many infections (called opportunistic infections, or OIs). Many of these illnesses are very serious, and they need to be treated. Some can be prevented. This web page has information about opportunistic infections and some other disorders common with HIV Disease.

Bacterial and Mycobacterial

• Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC, MAI)
• Salmonellosis
• Syphilis and Neuroshyphilis
• Turberculosis (TB)
• Bacillary angiomatosis (cat scratch disease)

Fungal Infections

• Aspergillosis
• Candidiasis (thrush, yeast infection)
• Coccidioidomycosis
• Cryptococcal Meningitis
• Histoplasmosis

Malignancies

• Kaposi's Sarcoma
• Lymphoma --
  • Systemic Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
  • Primary CNS Lymphoma

Protozoal Infections

• Cryptosporidiosis
• Isosporiasis
• Microsporidiosis
• Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
• Toxoplasmosis

Viral Infections

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Hepatitis
• Herpes Simplex (HSV, genital herpes)
• Herpes Zoster (HZV, shingles)
• Human Papiloma Virus (HPV, genital warts, cervical cancer)
• Molluscum Contagiosum
• Oral Hairy Leukoplakia (OHL)
• Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)

Neurological Conditions

• AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC)
• Peripheral Neuropathy

Other Conditions and Complications

• Apthous Ulcers
• Malabsorption

• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Thrombocytopenia
• Wasting Syndrome
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Listeriosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease, particularly if complicated by tubo-ovarian abscess
• Lymphoma, Burkitt's (or equivalent term)
• Lymphoma, immunoblastic (or equivalent term)

This section of ÆGIS has been selected as a valuable Internet resource for Discovery Channel School's Body Science theme for 1997-98.