When is acute HIV infection?

Acute HIV infection is the initial stage of HIV, and it lasts until the body has created antibodies against the virus. Acute HIV infection develops as early as 2 to 4 weeks after someone contracts HIV. It’s also known as primary HIV infection or acute retroviral syndrome.

What are the opportunistic diseases of HIV?

Common opportunistic infections associated with HIV include:

• cryptococcal meningitis.
• toxoplasmosis.
• PCP (a type of pneumonia)
• oesophageal candidiasis.
• certain cancers, including Kaposi’s sarcoma.

What is recommended regarding prophylaxis for cryptococcal meningitis?

Early ART is the best and most cost-effective strategy for preventing cryptococcal meningitis and associated mortality, as well as other HIV-associated opportunistic infections [103]. WHO recommends initiation of ART for HIV infection as soon as the CD4 cell count falls to less than 350 cells/mm3 [102].

When should patients with cryptococcal meningitis should be started on ART?

Initiating ART within four weeks of cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis may result in more deaths than initiating ART after four weeks. However, initiating ART early may result in a reduction in relapses of cryptococcal meningitis after adequate treatment.

What are the symptoms of cryptococcosis?

In general, symptoms of various forms of cryptococcosis may include: chest pain, dry cough, headache, nausea, confusion, blurred or double vision, fatigue, fever, unusual and excessive sweating at night, swollen glands without the appearance of infection in nearby areas, skin rash, pinpoint red spots (petechiae).

What is immune reconstitution syndrome?

The term “immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome” (IRIS) describes a collection of inflammatory disorders associated with paradoxical worsening of preexisting infectious processes following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected individuals [1-6].

How is cryptococcal meningitis treated?

Antifungal medicines are used to treat this form of meningitis. Intravenous (IV, through a vein) therapy with amphotericin B is the most common treatment. It is often combined with an oral antifungal medicine called 5-flucytosine. Another oral drug, fluconazole, in high doses may also be effective.

How long does it take to cure cryptococcosis?

People who have C. neoformans infection need to take prescription antifungal medication for at least 6 months, often longer. The type of treatment usually depends on the severity of the infection and the parts of the body that are affected.

What organs does cryptococcosis affect?

After lung and CNS infection, the next most commonly involved organs in disseminated cryptococcosis include the skin, the prostate, and the medullary cavity of bones.

How do you prevent immune reconstitution?

How can immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome be prevented? The most effective prevention of IRIS would involve initiation of ART before the development of advanced immunosuppression. IRIS is uncommon in individuals who initiate antiretroviral treatment with a CD4+ T-cell count greater than 100 cells/uL.

How do you control immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome?

In most cases, ART should not be interrupted. The Committee recommends symptomatic treatment of mild IRIS with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), drainage of abscesses, excision of inflamed or painful lymph nodes, and inhaled steroids for bronchospasm of cough.

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