Monday, June 28, 2010

Do antibiotics work with people that have HIV/Aids

Do antibiotics work with people that have HIV/Aids?
I know that when you have Aids, and you get an infection or something, thats it; you can't fight it off. Do antibiotics work for people with Aids/HIV?
Infectious Diseases - 5 Answers
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1 :
HIV (as the name suggests) is a virus. However, Antibiotics will work IN people with AIDS but the problem isnt that the person has an infection its that they cant fight the infection, so if one Bacterium remains then it will multiply and ransack the patients organs. However this is the late stage of AIDS. in the developed world most people can live a good 20 odd years after being detected with AIDS. AIDS is just the depletion of CD4+ T cells, with AIDS you die of a secondary opportunistic infection. Bit of a bugger really. *EDIT* AIDS is not a virus, AIDS is a syndrome, Autoimmune deficiency syndrome. You can possibly die from AIDS you die from an opportunistic infection....normally TB, atleast in the developing world. Where Antibiotics can are used to treat said infections they are not 100% effective and require some play by the immune system in getting rid of the disease. Now, Whilse the innate immune system has the ability of clearing many infections this process is slow and unspecialised so if the infection manages to overcome the innate immune system, a lack of CD4 Tcells will mean the infection runs rampant. Now antibiotics generally do not kill bacteria, they inhibit their reproduction thereby making it easier to clear the infection. Once the cd4+ T cell count has gone below a certain point ( i cant remember what the exact figure it is) you are classed with having AIDS. So in summery, while yes you can treat infections in AIDS patients with antibiotics it will not stop the inevitable which is the ultimate death of the patient by an opportunist infection/ recuring infection. I apologise for the mistake, I misread the question and my first section was misleading, I have taken it out!
2 :
no bc they help your immune system to kill/fight off the bacteria. your immune systen cant help
3 :
HIV is a virus so an antibiotic wont be able to destroy it because its too small and reproduces inside cells. AIDS i think is a virus so it's the same. but they will work for baterial illnesses if thats what you're asking while they have HIV/ AIDS
4 :
Those with HIV/AIDS are more prone to opportunistic and secondary bacterial infections. Yes, yes, yes they can be and are treated with antibiotics and these will help the bacterial infection. Everyone except Louis above me misunderstood your question.
5 :
Hi! Antibiotics do work. Unfortunately when I was diagnosed the medical community didn't have much of and idea what to do with me. One thing they did do was bombard my system with antibiotics. So when I do have a need for antibiotics it takes more and longer for them to work. Peace, Will

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