Opportunistic Infection in AIDS Patients:
Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome is a prolonged, potentially life threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. It affects the body by fighting the immune system of the rendering it impossible to fight infection and diseases. According to Centre for Disease and Control prevention, HIV is transmitted through contact of infected person whereby the virus attacks the CD4 cells. Thus, this paper seeks to explore on opportunistic infection in AIDS patients.
Opportunistic infection
Opportunistic infections (OIs) are infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in people with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV. A weakened immune system increases vulnerability to a number of opportunistic infections including; cancers, Cryptococcal meningitis, cytomegalovirus and other conditions (Deeks and Phillips, 2009). They argue that, despite the number of mortalities keeps decreasing as the treatment improves; it is still higher than uninfected people are. When the immunity of the body is strong enough, the chances of infection will be low since the body will be able to fight the virus causing infection to the body through white blood cells, which are responsible for protection. The infected people lack this protection on their body that is why they are more susceptible to other disease infections such as Candidiasis of bronchi and Histoplasmosis (CDC, 2019). OIs have reduced of late since there has been improved treatment to patients, which has increased the immunity of the infected people.
The mortality rate of infected people is still higher than in uninfected people (Deeks and Phillips, 2009). The cases of cardiovascular, cancer including liver diseases is higher in treated people then age matched uninfected people. This is because the body immunity system of these people has been compromised. For example, Candida is common to infected people when it attacks the mouth and vagina. However, it will be considered as OIs when it affects the esophagus. The healthy people will rarely be affected since their immunity will give them the required protection (CDC, 2019). Increased risk of liver disease, cancer and cardiovascular is associated with lower levels of CD4+ cell which is as a result of prolonged treatment but it is also evident to those with higher CD4 + T cells (Deeks and Phillips, 2019).
In conclusion, people living with AIDS are more susceptible to other diseases such as liver conditions, cardiovascular, candidiasis and cryptoccosis as compared to healthy ones. This has been recognized by the presence of higher immunity in their body, which keeps them healthy. The stronger the immunity, the lower the chances of contracting other illnesses.
References
Deeks, S. G., & Phillips, A. N. (2009). HIV infection, antiretroviral treatment, ageing, and non-AIDS related morbidity. Bmj, 338.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a3172
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019).