People with either HIV or AIDS have a compromised immune system, meaning that their immune systems cannot fight off infections in the same way that a healthy person can. This might result in the person getting more colds or diseases because the body cannot fight off the viruses or bacteria. Infections that occur when someone is already sick are called an opportunistic infection, or OI. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are common OIs that can occur when a person has HIV or AIDS.
Pneymocystis Pneumonia
According to the website AIDS.org, pneymocystis, or PCP, is the most common opportunistic infection that occurs in people with HIV. PCP is caused by a bacterium that attacks the lungs, causing a form of pneumonia. The symptoms of PCP include difficulty breathing, fever and a dry cough. People with a CD4 cell count of 200 or less are at high risk of developing PCP. Those who have a CD4 count of 300 and another opportunistic infection are also at risk for developing PCP. Without preventive treatment, 85 percent of HIV-positive people would develop PCP. PCP is preventable by taking antiretroviral therapy.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C causes inflammation of the liver, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to AIDS.org, people can live with hepatitis C for 10 years or longer without it causing any problems or displaying any symptoms. Thus, most people do not know they have it unless medical tests are performed. In the later stages of hepatitis C, symptoms can include fatigue, fever, nausea, joint and muscle pain, and tenderness in the upper-right side of the abdomen where the liver is located. Hepatitis C is passed through sexual activity and through blood. Hepatitis C is most common among drug users who share needles. According to the CDC, 50 to 90 percent of HIV drug users also have hepatitis C.
Human Papillomavirus
According to the Mayo Clinic, human papillomavirus, or HPV, is an infection that is contracted from a group of more than 100 viruses that are related to HPV. Every different type of HPV can cause different growths on parts of the body. Genital warts and lesions on the hands, mouth and feet are the most common. According to AIDS.org, there is no direct treatment for HPV. The warts and lesions can be removed by freezing them off with liquid nitrogen, with lasers and by cutting them out. According to AIDS.org, 77 percent of HIV positive women have HPV. HPV is easily transmitted during sexual activity, and condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing HPV.
