PROLONGED CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS DURING PRIMARY HIV-INFECTION

Primary infection with the human immunodeficiency virus causes profoun d immunosuppression with a decrease in lymphocyte numbers and function . However, this immunosuppression is transient and most individuals re gain normal immune function. Infection with opportunist pathogens duri ng the period of immunosuppression is rare. We report a case of severe prolonged cryptosporidiosis complicating primary HIV infection. This has not previously been described. A review of other cases of opportun ist infections in primary HIV infection suggests that various pathogen s may take advantage of the transient immunosuppression. This has impo rtant implications for the diagnosis and management of acute HIV infec tion, and for the diagnostic criteria currently used for AIDS.