PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECI PNEUMONIA
(PJP)
- PJP is a pneumonia caused by the fungus pneumocystis jiroveci
- PJP only occurs in people with a reduced immune system af
- PJP may indicate a first manifestation of AIDS
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is pneumonia caused by the fungus pneumocystis jiroveci. This fungus only causes pneumonia in people with a weakened immune system, for example during chemotherapy or an HIV infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms that occur with PJP are fever, coughing, chest pains and difficulty breathing. These are the symptoms that you can also have with a normal pneumonia.
Additional examination in the hospital is needed to be able to diagnose PJP.
These include blood tests, a lung X-ray and sometimes even a lung lavage. Once the PJP is diagnosed, antibiotics are started. Without treatment, someone can die of PJP.
Additional examination in the hospital is needed to be able to diagnose PJP.
These include blood tests, a lung X-ray and sometimes even a lung lavage. Once the PJP is diagnosed, antibiotics are started. Without treatment, someone can die of PJP.
Risk group
Pneumocystis jiroveci can cause pneumonia in people with a weakened immune system. Almost 20% of adults carry this fungus. Healthy adults should not experience complaints from this fungus. A good defense system usually clears this fungus.
A pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is a disease more commonly seen in people who have AIDS. If you have a PJP while you have HIV, it means that the HIV infection has weakened your immune system so much that the HIV infection has turned into AIDS.
A pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is a disease more commonly seen in people who have AIDS. If you have a PJP while you have HIV, it means that the HIV infection has weakened your immune system so much that the HIV infection has turned into AIDS.
Hiv and PJP
People with an HIV infection have a reduced immune system. They cannot properly clear the fungus pneumocystis jiroveci, which puts them at greater risk of developing pneumonia caused by this fungus.
HIV indicator conditions are conditions or symptoms that occur more often in people with an underlying HIV infection than in people without an HIV infection. PJP is one of the HIV indicator conditions. If you have or have had PJP and have not been tested for HIV, it is advisable to ask your doctor or general practitioner for an HIV test. Find it difficult to ask for an HIV test? You may download a call card that will help you formulate your question.