Opportunistic infections and diseases in HIV and AIDS
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Opportunistic infections and diseases in HIV and AIDS
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:
- 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.
Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 8, 2008 |
| Last updated: | May 08, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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