What are opportunistic infections?

Opportunistic infections are specifically defined as infections that occur when the body's immune system is weakened or compromised. This scenario allows pathogens that normally would not cause disease in a healthy individual to take advantage of the weakened state, hence the term "opportunistic." These infections are particularly common in individuals with conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, or those undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, as their immune systems are less capable of fighting off infections. The importance of recognizing opportunistic infections lies in understanding that prevention and early detection strategies are crucial for individuals with weakened immune systems to minimize the risk of these potentially serious infections.