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HIV / AIDS and the common cold: the degree of danger
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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If your immune system is weakened by HIV / AIDS, it becomes very difficult for you to effectively fight against colds, flu or other viral infections. That is why it is so important to understand everything that is possible, how to maintain health and avoid colds and flu in AIDS. Here's what you need to know about HIV / AIDS and the common cold in order to maintain your health.
Read also: HIV / AIDS and the flu
Why does the cold become such a huge problem for people with HIV / AIDS?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) kills or damages the cells of the body's immune system, making it much more difficult to fight infections, such as the cold virus. If you are diagnosed with HIV / AIDS, you also become more prone to developing cold complications, such as pneumonia.
What kind of cold treatment can be used if a person has HIV / AIDS?
As soon as you feel the first symptoms of a cold, call your doctor immediately, because HIV / AIDS has already weakened your immune system. While there are no antiviral drugs to eliminate cold viruses, your doctor will recommend the optimal treatment for the first cold symptoms.
A cold usually lasts a week and passes by itself, even in people with HIV. However, if your immune system is badly weakened, you have much more risks of getting serious complications from the common cold, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, or tracheitis. If your cold symptoms do not improve or if you develop shortness of breath or febrile fever, tell your doctor if necessary, he has prescribed more aggressive treatment for you.
Necessary measures for a cold for a person with HIV / AIDS
With a cold, be sure to drink plenty of fluids (up to two liters a day) to avoid dehydration, especially if you have a fever. The high temperature - above 39 degrees Celsius - is a sign that you can have flu, but not cold. And the flu is much more serious and dangerous for the body. If you have flu symptoms, tell your doctor right away.
Influenza medications taken on time can shorten the duration of flu symptoms, and are most effective when used at an early stage. Defending yourself against the flu, even if you do not have an appetite, try to eat something. At least light meals, such as vegetables or fruits. Even a small amount of food can help you with colds, until your appetite for you again comes back. Be sure, if you will rest enough and sleep a lot, your body has all the chances to recover quickly.
Can a person prevent a cold if he has HIV / AIDS?
Since people with HIV / AIDS are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, it is important for them to always maintain good personal hygiene in order to reduce their chances of catching a cold. Talk with your family and friends about preventing the spread of cold viruses. They can easily do this by closing their mouths when they cough, they also need to wash their hands quite often and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands, and then to any household surface on which viruses and bacteria swarm.
In addition, regularly use antibacterial pure bleach or chemicals on a weak solution to eliminate microbes on common objects and home furniture. For example, such as a computer mouse and keyboard, handsets, door handles, kitchen and bathroom, countertops and sinks, and especially the refrigerator handle.
Consult your doctor about vaccination against pneumonia and flu for you and vaccination against influenza for all members of your family to avoid the spread of viruses among your loved ones. The CDC recommends that people with chronic diseases, including HIV / AIDS, and people with a weakened immune system be among the first to receive a flu vaccine each year.
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Be especially careful during the flu season and colds!
The season of influenza can begin already in October and end in May. The CDC recommends that you vaccinate against the flu as soon as it becomes available - in the fall, so your body has time to create enough antibodies before the flu season. Vaccination against the flu, held before December, will work much better, but you can still get an inoculation in December or later, if necessary. The flu vaccine usually comes into effect approximately two weeks after vaccination. Depending on your age and your medical problems, you may need only a pneumonia vaccination and only once a year.
Also, avoid being in a large crowd during the cold and flu season, as these diseases can cause serious problems in people with HIV / AIDS. Or even greater damage to the immune system. Keep your immune system healthy, and for this you need a lot of sleep, eat well, exercise regularly and avoid stress. In addition, pay attention to your healthy lifestyle, in every possible way avoiding the smoke of cigarettes and air pollutants.
HIV / AIDS and the common cold should not prevent you from a quality life. Therefore, before they get ahead of you and attack, think out your precautions as a good chess player and attack first.