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Avoiding infections

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HIV attacks the immune system, which means that our bodies may find it difficult to fight off everyday bugs and infections. This is especially true when the CD4  count is below 200. Basic hygiene and simple precautions will help you avoid some of these infections.

  • Wash your hands thoroughly, with soap and hot running water:
    • after using the toilet
    • after handling rubbish
    • before and after preparing or eating food.
  • Sexually transmitted infections can damage your health. See other booklets in this series for more detailed information.
  • If you know that someone has infectious TB (tuberculosis), avoid contact with them.
  • Use different cloths to clean kitchen worktops, floors and the bathroom.
  • Wash kitchen worktops thoroughly (preferably with bleach) after they have been touched by raw meat, poultry, fish or eggs.
  • Be careful with dirty nappies, diarrhoea, pet waste, and garden soil. Use rubber gloves, and clean up with hot water and disinfectant.
  • You are probably immune to any infections from a pet you’ve had a long time. But there could be risks from a new pet, especially a young one. Speak to your doctor for more advice.
  • There may be a risk with drinking water in some foreign countries. Tap water in the UK is usually safe for people with CD4 counts above 200. Otherwise it can  be boiled for five minutes, left to cool, and stored in the fridge.
  • Check with your doctor before travelling to a developing country.

Gum disease

Gum disease and other mouth problems are more common amongst people with HIV than other people.

  • Brush teeth thoroughly for two minutes twice a day.
  • Make sure you brush behind the teeth, at the back of the mouth, and where the teeth join the gums.
  • Floss each day.
  • Use mouthwash.
  • Avoid sugar between meals, and drink water throughout the day.
  • If you don’t see a dentist regularly, your HIV clinic may be able to recommend one.

Food poisoning

People with low CD4 counts are more vulnerable to food poisoning. Take care with:

  • Raw eggs, meat, seafood, fish and sushi
  • Undercooked chicken and pork
  • Unpasteurised dairy products
  • Live yogurt and probiotic drinks
  • Food past its sell-by date
  • Unwashed fruit and vegetables
  • Left-overs (they need to be thoroughly reheated and eaten within two days)
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.