Question
Am I still at risk of developing an OI?
11 January 2024. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Newly diagnosed, Opportunistic infections.
I am diagnosed with a CD4 count of 60 on 28 oct 2023 with mouth candida. After 2 months of treatment I am feeling better. Am I still at risk of developing OI?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
It is great to hear that you are feeling much better after 2 weeks on treatment. Were you given anything specific to treat the mouth candida?
As you have a CD4 count below 200 it is recommended that you be on an antibiotic called co-trimoxazole (sometimes called Septrin or Bactrim). This is used to help prevent other infections while your immune system recovers.
Do you know what your current CD4 count and viral load is?
While your CD4 count is still low you are still at some risk of other OIs but the antibiotics and HIV treatment will help prevent this.
As your treatment continues to work and your CD4 count goes up, you will become more resistant to OIs until you have no additional risk similar to someone who is not living with HIV.
Josh.
Hi josh
I have of mild feeling of pain near by right ear or may throat
I always little uncomfortable like mild pain
What may be the cause
Hi Josh,
Thank you very much
I really think you are doing noble cause for humanity. Giving hope for living people who are depressed, feared
Your kind words and support giving me hope
Hi Sandy, there are no recommendations about using a mask and having a low CD4 count. This can be a discussion you have with your doctor as they will be able to consider this precaution in line with your health overall and if a mask is required.
While your CD4 count is lower you will be on an antibiotic (co-trimoxazole) to help prevent further infections. It is also important that you remain vigilant about infection control e.g., clean water sources, regular hand washing and avoiding common sites of infection e.g., nurseries and farms. Outside of these general measures there is nothing you need to specifically be doing.
Hi Josh,
Wearing mask recommend at low CD 4
I was diagnosed with low CD4 60
Hi Sandy, where are you finding this data? when on treatment this is not the case and HIV transmission is going down.
Deaths related to HIV are now rarely due to anything other than not being on treatment/poor adherence.
In 2022 there were 1.3 million reported new cases of HIV. A total of 630,000 deaths were reported by AIDS related illness. This is a death rate of half of those newly HIV positive.
Access is to treatment is largely the biggest problem. Of all 39 million people reported to be living with HIV in 2022, only 76% were on regular and effective treatment. Meaning 24% (9.36 million) were not on treatment which is the biggest reason for AIDS related deaths.
More information about these statistics can be found here: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet
Hi Josh
If hiv treatment is so effective then why people dying due to hiv
Almost new hiv diagnosed same number die in year
Hi Sandy, yes your CD4 count will improve. It is a slow process but overtime with treatment it is likely that your CD4 count will return to a healthy range. Unlike viral load which responds to treatment within months, Cd4 count recovery can take years and this is normal.
As you are starting from a CD4 count below 100, it would be common for recovery to take a few years. There is no way to speed up this process, but as long as you remain on treatment and taking it daily your CD4 count will recover. This is why you are also on the antibiotic to help prevent other infections which could further damage your immune system.
Starting from a lower count does mean the process of recovery might be longer than most people. This is a matter of patience and compliance with treatment and your doctors recommendations. For your current symptoms have you had any further investigations by your doctor and/or treatments?
Hi Josh,
I am really worried how will recover from this low CD 4, will I get normal
I always feel burden on left side
My throat not feeling normal
Hi Sandy, it is good that there is a timeline for how long you should be on your medication.
CD4 count recovery is a slow process. Starting at 60 it can take a couple of years to increase but it will steadily rise.
As long as you continue with your treatment daily there is no reason to think it will not work. It means you have very good chances of being ‘normal’. The hardest thing will be being patient with your medication and being okay with the CD4 count rising slowly overtime.
Doctor said flucnazole will continue till cd4 reach 100 , otherwise mouth candila will return
When I expect my cd4 return normal
As I was diagnosed 60 cd4 on 28th October 2023 after that I am on treatment
What are my chances of being normal