Protect the person with HIV from other infections
A person who has HIV has difficulty fighting off other infections. You can help protect the person from infections.
- Avoid close contact with people who have contagious illnesses until their symptoms have disappeared. This includes illnesses such as colds, the flu, or stomach flu.
- If you have a cold or flu, wear a surgical-type mask and wash your hands before approaching or touching the person with HIV.
- Get an annual flu shot to reduce the chance of getting the flu and infecting others.
- If you have skin infections such as boils, cold sores, fever blisters (herpes simplex), or shingles (herpes zoster), avoid close contact with the person who has HIV.
- Ask your doctor whether you should have any boosters or shots for measles, mumps, or rubella, because these shots may not have been available when you were a child.
- Get the special form of polio shot known as "Salk" or "inactivated virus" vaccine if you need a polio shot. Do not use the oral "Sabin" form of the vaccine.
- Contact the doctor of the person who has HIV within 24 hours if the person has not had:
- A measles immunization and he or she is exposed to measles. A medicine is available that, if given promptly, may help prevent measles.
- Chickenpox and he or she is exposed to chickenpox or shingles. Chickenpox can make a person with HIV very sick. For more information, see the topic Chickenpox (Varicella).
- Learn how to handle food properly. The care and handling of food requires some special considerations.
- Avoid having a person who has HIV clean pet litter or pet living areas, such as cages and tanks.
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: April 10, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine | |
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