Laboratory manual for diagnosis of fungal opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus parse does not kill the infected individuals. Instead, it weakens the body's ability to fight disease. Infections which are rarely seen in those with normal immune systems can be deadly to those with HIV. People with HIV can get many infections (‎known as opportunistic infections, or OIs)‎. Many of these illnesses are very serious and require treatment. Some can be prevented. Of the several OIs that cause morbidity and mortality in HIV infected individuals those belonging to various genera of fungi have assumed great importance in recent past. Since these OIs were earlier considered as nonpathogenic, the diagnostic services for confirmation of their causative role need to be strengthened. This document is an endeavor in this direction and hopefully shall be useful in establishing early diagnosis of fungal OIs in HIV infected people thus assuring rapid institution of specific treatment.