Medical Emergencies · single question
What is the FIRST opportunistic infection typically detected in HIV-infected patients as the immune system declines?
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Correct answer: D. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP)
- A. Incorrect. Oral candidiasis occurs at higher CD4 counts and was an early INDICATOR disease, but PCP is the classic first AIDS-defining OI.
- B. Incorrect. TB is a common HIV-associated infection but can occur at relatively higher CD4 counts than PCP and is not the classic 'first detected' AIDS-defining OI.
- C. Incorrect. Kaposi's sarcoma is a malignancy (HHV-8) — not a primary opportunistic INFECTION. Its incidence has decreased with ART.
- D. Correct. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) was the first recognized AIDS-defining OI and remains one of the most common initial opportunistic infections as CD4 drops below 200 cells/μL. Classic 'first detected' OI in untreated HIV.
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