ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the various important opportunistic infections encountered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) with an emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Gastrointestinal infections are very common in patients with HIV infection or AIDS with diarrhoea being a common clinical presentation. Viral infections contribute to the significant morbidity and mortality in HIV infected patients. The most common viral opportunistic infection includes Cytomegalovirus, Varicella zoster virus, Herpes simplex virus and Human papilloma virus. The most common subtype with HIV/AIDS are primary central nervous system lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma or intermediate and high grade lymphoma. Co-trimoxazole is reported as the drug of choice against Toxoplasmosis, Salmonellosis, Pneumocystis carinii, Haemophilus and Staphylococcal infections in patients with HIV. Isoniazid preventive therapy is recommended as the treatment of choice for HIV infected persons at risk of Tuberculosis and those with latent Tuberculosis infection.
