2 Virology, HIV and viral load

2.4 Other causes of illness

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Besides viruses, the main causes of illness from infection are: bacteria, fungi, parasites and protozoa.

Different types of treatment are used for each cause. For example, antibiotics work against bacteria but do not work against a viruses.

The difference between viral, bacterial and fungal infections is not always clear. Sometimes drugs designed to treat one kind of infection also work against a another type. This is complicated because it applies only to individual drugs for specific infections.

Bacteria

Bacteria are single-cell micro-organisms. Some bacteria are healthy and help your body and some cause disease. Antibiotic drugs are used to treat bacterial infections.

Examples of bacterial infections that affect people with HIV include tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, gonorrhoea and some skin infections.

Fungi

Fungi are parasitic organisms that include moulds, mildews, mushrooms and yeast. Antifungal drugs are used to treat fungal infections.

Examples of fungal infections that affect people with HIV include candida (thrush) and cryptococcosis.

Parasites and protozoa

A parasite is an animal or plant that gets nutrients and support from another species. This includes protozoa – single-celled animals that are larger and more complex than bacteria.

Examples of parasite-related infections are cryptosporidium and microsporidium. An example of an illness cause by protozoa is toxoplasmosis.