Living with HIV can increase your risk of certain illnesses. This is because the virus can impair your immune system’s ability to fight off infections.

HIV treatments like antiretroviral therapy can help support the health of your immune system and thus reduce your risk of illness.

This article focuses on some of the most common conditions associated with HIV, but this list is not exhaustive. It also does not address differential diagnoses (that is, other conditions that may cause HIV-like symptoms).

There’s a strong association between HIV and hepatitis viruses, which affect the liver.

Specifically, there’s a strong link between hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV, as well as hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV.

Approximately 20% of people with HIV in the United States also have HCV, while 10% have HBV, according to the National Institutes of Health.

As with HIV, HBV and HCV are transferred through shared bodily fluids — such as through sex without a barrier method, blood transmission, and sharing needles.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this means that coinfection with HIV and hepatitis is more likely.

Both types of hepatitis can lead to serious conditions like chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, complicating HIV management and treatment.

If you have HIV, you’re more likely to experience the following types of herpes viruses:

  • herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which usually causes oral herpes
  • herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which usually causes genital herpes
  • varicella zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox and shingles
  • cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can cause serious complications such as retinitis, a condition that may lead to blindness, especially in individuals with advanced HIV

Despite the stigma surrounding herpes, it’s actually very common. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 67% of the world’s population under age 50 had HSV-1, while 13% of people between the ages of 15 and 49 had HSV-2.

Both viruses are more prevalent in people with HIV, as are other herpes viruses.

In people with herpes, HIV might worsen their symptoms. For example, they may have longer and more severe outbreaks of shingles or HSV-1.

You’re more likely to experience one of these illnesses if your CD4 count falls below 200.

Some of these infections include:

  • pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a fungal infection that causes severe pneumonia
  • candidiasis (yeast infection), which can affect the vagina, skin, and throat
  • tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection that often affects the lungs but can be found in many areas of the body
  • cryptococcal meningitis, a fungal infection of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain or spinal cord
  • toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite, which can lead to brain infections

In addition to making you more susceptible, HIV can make it harder for your body to fight off these infections.

Because HIV is an ongoing infection, it can cause chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to several long-term health conditions.

These conditions include:

  • heart disease
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease

Aside from the HIV infection itself, certain antiretroviral medications can also affect these organs over time, leading to inflammation.

People with HIV are at an elevated risk for certain cancers, often linked to immune suppression.

These cancers include:

  • anal cancer, which is 19 times more likely to develop in people living with HIV, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • cervical cancer, which is more common in people with HIV, often due to coinfection with human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Kaposi sarcoma, a blood vessel cancer that is 500 times more likely to occur in people with HIV
  • liver cancer, partly because hepatitis can increase your chances of developing liver cancer
  • lung cancer, which is twice as likely to occur in people with HIV
  • non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which is 12 times more common in people with HIV

What is a coinfection?

A coinfection refers to having more than one infection at the same time. For people with HIV, common coinfections include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HPV, and tuberculosis.

What is an opportunistic infection?

Opportunistic infections (OIs) are infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in people with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV.

Examples of opportunistic infections include pneumocystis pneumonia, cryptococcal meningitis, and cytomegalovirus.

What is an AIDS-defining condition?

An AIDS-defining condition is an illness that indicates the progression of HIV to stage 3 HIV (also known as AIDS). These conditions are often severe and include certain infections and cancers, such as PCP, Kaposi sarcoma, and invasive cervical cancer.

It’s important to note, though, that AIDS-defining conditions don’t only occur in people with AIDS. For example, Kaposi sarcoma can develop in people who are HIV-negative.

Many of these conditions can be effectively managed with proper medical care, including antiretroviral therapy. A healthcare professional might also prescribe other treatments to address co-occurring illnesses.

You might find the following guides helpful:

Remember that HIV is treatable. In fact, antiretroviral therapy has improved greatly in the last few years, making it possible for people with HIV to stay healthier for longer.

If you suspect you have HIV, it’s a good idea to see a medical professional as soon as possible. The right treatments can help you feel better and greatly improve your quality of life.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.