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An opportunistic infection is a serious infection caused by pathogens (bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses) that under normal conditions, such as in humans with uncompromised immune systems, would cause a mild infection or no infection at all.
M. avium and M. haemophilum infections in children form a distinct clinical entity, not associated with abnormalities of the immune system. M. avium typically causes unilateral swelling of one of the lymph nodes of the neck. This node is firm at the beginning, but a 'collar-stud' abscess is formed eventually, which is a characteristic blue ...
Opportunistic infection – infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of a weakened or compromised immune system. Risk of infection – Likelihood of contracting an infection, which is influenced by a host's inherent susceptibility (age, immune status, genetics) or external exposures (behavior, environment).
For example, an infection due to a burn or penetrating trauma (the root cause) is a secondary infection. Primary pathogens often cause primary infection and often cause secondary infection. Usually, opportunistic infections are viewed as secondary infections (because immunodeficiency or injury was the predisposing factor). [60]
A human pathogen is a pathogen (microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus) that causes disease in humans.. The human physiological defense against common pathogens (such as Pneumocystis) is mainly the responsibility of the immune system with help by some of the body's normal microbiota.
In humans, S. marcescens can cause an opportunistic infection in several sites, [12] including the urinary tract, respiratory tract, wounds, [7] breasts, [13] and the eye, [14] where it may cause conjunctivitis, keratitis, endophthalmitis, and tear duct infections. [15]
Adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome is a type of immunodeficiency.It is linked to vulnerability to disseminated infections brought on by opportunistic pathogens.People with this condition have increased levels of anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies.
People with AIDS often develop opportunistic infections that present with non-specific symptoms, especially low-grade fevers and weight loss. These include opportunistic infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare and cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV can cause colitis, as described above, and CMV retinitis can cause blindness. [citation needed]