Pneumocystis Carinii is the most common opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS.
• It is a fungus found in the air.
Clinical Picture
• Fever and dyspnea
• Dry Cough
• ARDS ( Acute respiratory distress syndrome )
• Cough and dyspnea can be present several days or weeks before the onset of systemic symptoms or even a chest X ray abnormality.
Investigations
- X-ray : bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, nodules or cavities.
- Transbronchial lung biopsy
Treatment
- Co-trimoxazole I.V injection 120 mg/kg in divided doses, (100mg/kg Sulfamethyoxazole and 20mg/kg trimethoprim) for 21 days
- I.V. Pentamidine in resistant cases or in patients allergic to
sulpha (4 mg/kg/d for 21 days).
• It is a fungus found in the air.
Clinical Picture
• Fever and dyspnea
• Dry Cough
• ARDS ( Acute respiratory distress syndrome )
• Cough and dyspnea can be present several days or weeks before the onset of systemic symptoms or even a chest X ray abnormality.
Investigations
- X-ray : bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, nodules or cavities.
- Transbronchial lung biopsy
Treatment
- Co-trimoxazole I.V injection 120 mg/kg in divided doses, (100mg/kg Sulfamethyoxazole and 20mg/kg trimethoprim) for 21 days
- I.V. Pentamidine in resistant cases or in patients allergic to
sulpha (4 mg/kg/d for 21 days).