What are opportunistic infections?

Opportunistic infections are infections that specifically take advantage of certain opportunities to infect a host. They typically occur in individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, or individuals on immunosuppressive therapy. When the immune system is compromised, it becomes less effective at fighting off pathogens that would normally be managed by a healthy immune response.

For example, pathogens that are ordinarily harmless, like certain bacteria, fungi, or viruses, can become virulent and lead to severe illness if the host's immune defenses are insufficient. Therefore, those who have a robust immune system can generally fend off these infections effectively, while those who do not are at greater risk and may experience significant morbidity as a result.

This understanding of opportunistic infections highlights the critical role of a functioning immune system and underscores the significant health risks faced by immunocompromised individuals.