Women and HIV/AIDS - Living with HIV/AIDS - Opportunistic Infections

PCP

PCP (pneumocystis carinii [new-mo-sis-tis ca-rin-nee-eye] pneumonia) hurts your lungs. It is the most common, serious infection for people with AIDS in the United States. Symptoms are fever, cough, or trouble breathing. People with PCP may die if it's not treated quickly. See your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.

Most scientists believe PCP is spread in the air, but they don't know if it lives in the soil or someplace else. Since it is difficult to prevent, you can take drugs so you don't get PCP.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend taking the drug trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (try-meth-o-prim-sul-fa- meth-ox-uh-sole) or TMP-SMX to prevent PCP if your CD4 cell count falls below 200. You may also take it if:

you have certain symptoms, such as having a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts for 2 weeks or longer.

you get a fungal infection in the mouth or throat (thrush).

Ask your doctor whether you should take this drug.

Additional Information on PCP:

Publications

You can Prevent PCP: A Guide for People with HIV Infection - This brochure explains PCP as the most common serious infection among persons with HIV. However, PCP can be prevented and treated.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brochure/pcpb.htm

PCP Prevention (Copyright © Project Inform) - This publication explains the symptoms and risk factors for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or PCP. It also explains how you can prevent this disease if you are HIV positive.

http://www.projectinform.org/info/pcppx/index.shtml

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated January 25, 2008.