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HIV/AIDS
A virus that weakens the immune system.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider about your specific condition and treatment.
When to seek help
Seek medical help right away if you have severe, sudden, or worsening symptoms, trouble breathing, chest pain, or any symptom that feels life-threatening. This community is for peer support and education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency services immediately.
Overview
Having HIV/AIDS weakens your body's immune system. It destroys the white blood cells that fight infection. This puts you at risk for opportunistic infections (OIs). OIs are serious infections that take advantage of your weak immune system. These infections are less common and less severe in healthy people. There are many types of OIs: Bacterial infections, including tuberculosis and a serious related disease, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) Viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis C Fungal infections, like yeast infections, cryptococcal meningitis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and histoplasmosis Parasitic infections, such as crypto (cryptosporidiosis) and toxo…
Resources
Join the HIV/AIDS community
Talk with people who understand, share what helps, and find support from others living with hiv/aids. Private, moderated, and free.
Posts in this community reflect personal experiences, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before changing your treatment.