Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Also written as PCP.
| Cotrimoxazole | Sulphonamide combination | High-dose for Pneumocystis pneumonia in HIV | Rash, high potassium, low blood count |
What our notes say
- | Cotrimoxazole | Sulphonamide combination | High-dose for Pneumocystis pneumonia in HIV | Rash, high potassium, low blood count | (Pneumonia)
- First clinically recognized in 1981 (USA) — clusters of unusual *Pneumocystis* pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma in young men (Medical Virology: Hepatitis, Viral Carcinogenesis & Oncogenic Viruses)
- AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) – CD4 count drops below 200 cells/µL (or development of AIDS-defining opportunistic infections/cancers, e.g. *Pneumocystis* pneumonia, Kaposi's sarcoma, candidiasis, TB, CMV retinitis) (Medical Virology: Hepatitis, Viral Carcinogenesis & Oncogenic Viruses)
- Clinical features: Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP) — progressive dyspnoea, dry cough, fever, bilateral interstitial infiltrates on chest X-ray. (Mycoses: Superficial, Cutaneous & Systemic Fungal Infections)
- In immunocompromised patients (especially HIV/AIDS with CD4 <200), it causes Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) — a life-threatening opportunistic infection. (📚 MEDICAL VIROLOGY & MYCOLOGY — MCQ BANK)
- CD4+ <200 cells/µL: Increased risk of _Pneumocystis_ pneumonia. (Lung Pathology — Must-Know)
Practice questions on Pneumocystis Pneumonia
A 30-year-old man has weight loss, chronic diarrhea, then develops Pneumocystis pneumonia, CMV retinitis, and oral candidiasis. Most likely lab finding?
- ANA titer of 1:1024
- cANCA titer of 1:256
- CD4 lymphocyte count of 100/microliter
- Serum IgA of 10 mg/dL
Answer: C. Multiple opportunistic infections (Pneumocystis, CMV, Candida) = AIDS. CD4 count below 200/microliter is the threshold at which AIDS-defining opportunistic infections occur in HIV infection. ---