How to prevent PCP

May 2008     View PDF     En español

When should I start preventive treatment?

You should have your blood tested regularly to check the health of your immune system. (For more information, see Project Inform’s publication, Blood work: A Complete Guide to Monitoring HIV .) It’s generally recommended to start PCP preventive therapy if your CD4 count falls below 200. If you show certain symptoms, such as a temperature above 100°F that lasts for two weeks or longer or a fungal infection in the mouth or throat (thrush) despite having higher CD4 counts, PCP preventive therapy is recommended. Having a fungal infection in this case is believed to raise your risk for getting PCP. This may also be true for HIV-positive women who experience repeated vaginal yeast infections.