COCCIDIAN INFECTIONS IN AIDS - TOXOPLASMOSIS, CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS, AND ISOSPORIASIS

Some 3% to 40% of HIV-infected patients may develop toxoplasmic encephalitis, the principal opportunistic CNS infection in this group. Combined pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine has been the mainstay of treatment, but alternative therapies are being investigated. Cryptosporidiosis and isosporiasis involve persistent, debilitating enteritis and, in the latter case, biliary tract involvement in AIDS patients. There is no known therapy for cryptosporidiosis, whereas patients with isosporiasis respond promptly to treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.