Question
Am I at higher risk of colds because I have HIV?
1 August 2012. Related: All topics, Opportunistic infections.
This question is related to people with HIV and their propensity to catching colds or other common viruses.
I was diagnosed about half a year ago (I’m doing OK). Since my diagnosis I feel like I have had more colds than usual, and they have lasted longer too. I have had about 3 annoying colds from January til now.
However, I read somewhere that since HIV is concerned with cell-mediated immunity as opposed to humoral immunity (the one concerned with colds, etc.) there is thus no relation between HIV and getting more or less sick due to respiratory tract infections.
This is all very well, however, the WHO HIV guide states that recurrent upper respiratory tract infections are indeed a symptom of the disease progressing.
Can you please explain this to me?
Answer
Hello,
Thank-you for your question.
It is generally accepted that people who are HIV positive are at no higher risk of catching the cold or similar viruses due to their HIV status. This is because there is no part of the immune system which is resistant to the cold- hence why people keep getting them throughout their lives. This means that HIV can’t destroy any immunity to the common cold, because there is none there to start with.
The upper respiratory tract infections mentioned by the WHO are more severe infections. These include sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis media,and pharyngitis. When a person with HIV has a low CD4 count a common cold can develop into a more serious infection such as sinusitis or pneumonia, but there is no increased risk of catching the cold in the first place.
Hi Boitumelo, ARVs are the only medication that will help ‘boost’ your immune system. They work by suppressing HIV viral load. This means that HIV cannot damage your CD4 cells which are important in your immune system. Preventing HIV from destroying your CD4 cells allows your body to naturally recover your CD4 count. In turn this lets your immune system be booted. There are no drugs/supplements that can ‘boost’ your immune system. The best way to be healthy is to follow a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet. This ensures your body gets all the required nutrients and vitamins to maintain its immune system. If you have a CD4 count below 200 you can also be offered antibiotics called co-trimoxazole (septrin/Bactrim). These do not boost your immune system but they do protect you from other infections giving your body time to recover its immune system.
Which immune system medication except ARV can help ARV to boost you