Skip left navigation

Home > A-Z Health Topics > HIV/AIDS > Opportunistic infections and other conditions > Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)

• More information on pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)

Pneumocystis jiroveci (noo-moh-SISS-tiss yee-row-VET-zee) pneumonia, formerly called pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia or PCP, is a fungal infection that hurts your lungs. It is the most common, serious infection for people with AIDS in the United States. When a person with HIV gets PCP, it means the person has AIDS. Symptoms are fever, cough, or trouble breathing. People with PCP may die if it's not treated quickly. See your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.

Most scientists believe PCP is spread in the air, but they don't know if it lives in the soil or someplace else. Since it is difficult to prevent, you can take drugs so you don't get PCP.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend taking specific medicine to prevent PCP if your CD4 cell count falls below 200. You may also take it if:

• You have certain symptoms, such as having a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts for two weeks or longer.
• You get a fungal infection in the mouth or throat (thrush).

Ask your doctor whether you should take medicine to prevent PCP.

Return to top

More information on pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)

Explore other publications and websites

• PCP How to Prevent(Copyright © Project Inform) — This publication explains the symptoms, risk factors, and prevention of pneumocystis pneumonia or PCP.
  http://www.projectinform.org/publications/pcp/
• Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP) (Copyright © AIDS InfoNet) — This fact sheet has answers to commonly asked questions about PCP treatment and prevention.
  http://www.aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/515
• Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP) and HIV (Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians) — This page has answers to many questions about HIV and PCP such as how you get PCP, how to protect yourself, and how it is treated.
  http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/hiv/475.html
• You Can Prevent PCP — This brochure explains how to prevent and treat PCP, the most common serious infection among persons with HIV.
  http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brochure/pcpb.htm

Content last updated July 1, 2011.

Resources last updated July 1, 2011.

Email Print

Return to top