Treatment of Opportunistic Infections | Western Cape Government

Treatment of Opportunistic Infections

Description:
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Treatment is available for opportunistic infections that, unlike HIV, are mostly curable. These include diarrhoea, tuberculosis, pneumonia and candida (oral or vaginal thrush), which an HIV-positive person can pick up easily because their immune system is weakened by HIV. Treatment for opportunistic infections is available for people who are both HIV-positive and HIV-negative. Anyone who has symptoms of these opportunistic infections can go to a clinic where they will be treated with antibiotics that have been shown to reduce the number of opportunistic infections in Aids by 50%. The province is also part of the Diflucan Partnership Programme, which makes the drug Diflucan available at 62 facilities, 39 of which are primary health clinics. The drug treats oesophageal candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis.

Remember that the earlier you go to a clinic for an HIV test and the test result is positive for HIV, the earlier you will get prophylaxis treatment to prevent the onset of opportunistic infections.
Instructions:
You can get treatment at all primary health care facilities. You will be referred if necessary to the specialist Aids Clinic at GF Jooste Hospital in the Metropole region. There are also 20 dedicated Aids clinics in the province to which you could be referred.

First-time visitors to the clinic/secondary or tertiary hospital will be asked to fill out a form and a folder will be opened. Bring your ID book. A referral letter from the clinic is required when visiting a hospital. Hospitals will ask for your most recent payslip/income assessment (IRP5). Bring your hospital card if previously registered at the hospital.
Provided At: These facility categories:
Provided by:
Government Body:
Department of Health and Wellness
(Western Cape Government)
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The content on this page was last updated on 5 September 2013