WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON OIs?

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON OIs?

In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, OIs caused a lot of sickness and deaths. Once people started taking strong antiretroviral therapy (ART), however, a lot fewer people got OIs. It’s not clear how many people with HIV will get a specific OI.

In women, health problems in the vaginal area may be early signs of HIV. These can include pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis, among others. See fact sheet 610 for more information.

The most common OIs are listed here, along with the disease they usually cause, and the CD4 cell count when the disease becomes active:

* Candidiasis (Thrush) is a fungal infection of the mouth, throat, or vagina. CD4 cell range: can occur even with fairly high CD4 cells.
* Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a viral infection that causes eye disease that can lead to blindness.CD4 cell range: under 50.
* Herpes simplex viruses can cause oral herpes (cold sores) or genital herpes. These are fairly common infections, but if you have HIV, the outbreaks can be much more frequent and more severe. They can occur at any CD4 cell count.
* Malaria is common in the developing world. It is more common and more severe in people with HIV infection.
* Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC or MAI) is a bacterial infection that can cause recurring fevers, general sick feelings, problems with digestion, and serious weight loss. CD4 cell range: under 75.
* Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a fungal infection that can cause a fatal pneumonia. CD4 cell range: under 200. Unfortunately this is still a fairly common OI in people who have not been tested or treated for HIV.
* Toxoplasmosis (Toxo) is a protozoal infection of the brain. T-cell range: under 100.
* Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs, and can cause meningitis. CD4 cell range: Everyone with HIV who tests positive for exposure to TB should be treated.

PREVENTING OIs

Most of the germs that cause OIs are quite common, and you may already be carrying several of these infections. You can reduce the risk of new infections by keeping clean and avoiding known sources of the germs that cause OIs.

Even if you’re infected with some OIs, you can take medications that will prevent the development of active disease. This is called prophylaxis. The best way to prevent OIs is to take strong ART. See Fact Sheet 403 for more information on ART.

The Fact Sheets for each OI have more information on avoiding infection or preventing the development of active disease.
TREATING OIs

For each OI, there are specific drugs, or combinations of drugs, that seem to work best. Refer to the Fact Sheets for each OI to learn more about how they are treated.

Strong antiretroviral drugs can allow a damaged immune system to recover and do a better job of fighting OIs. Fact Sheet 481 on Immune Restoration has more information on this topic.