Opportunistic infection and HIV / AIDS
What is Opportunistic infection
Illness that develops in a person who is IMMUNOCOMPROMISED as a result of exposure to an otherwise benign MICROBE or a PATHOGEN a healthy IMMUNE SYSTEM could contain or eradicate. Opportunistic infections commonly occur in people who have HIV/AIDS, are receiving IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY after ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION, or are undergoing certain kinds of treatment for cancer. The weakened state of the IMMUNE SYSTEM allows infections to take hold as well as makes fighting the INFECTION more difficult.
| COMMON OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| CANDIDIASIS | CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) INFECTION |
| HERPES SIMPLEX infection | COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS |
| CRYPTOCOCCOSIS | Pneumocystis carinii PNEUMONIA |
| TOXOPLASMOSIS | TUBERCULOSIS |
See also NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION.
