An Italian man gets Covid-19, monkeypox and HIV at the same time – here’s what doctors say about co-infections

• The Italian man’s case is unique, say experts, as he developed all the symptoms of three diseases.
• Doctors say that people of any age group can be co-infected and its severity depends upon the health and wellness of the patient.
• Getting co-infected doesn’t neccesarily mean a patient cannot be cured, says Dr R V S Bhalla at Fortis Escorts.

After a 36-year-old man in Italy was diagnosed with Covid-19, monkeypox and HIV — all at once, concerns of co-infections have gone up, across the world.

The Italian man’s case is unique say experts as he developed all the symptoms of three diseases – and also admitted to engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse during a trip abroad.

“This case highlights how monkeypox and Covid-19 symptoms may overlap, and corroborates how in case of co-infection, anamnestic collection and sexual habits are crucial to perform the correct diagnosis,” says the Journal of Infection, which released details of this case study.

Anamnestic collection refers to the medical history of a patient.

While the man’s case is the first such in the world, two of three diseases have been declared endemic and pandemic – indicating that these viruses are all prevalent across the world.

Even though India does not have too many monkeypox cases, the cases of swine flu and seasonal flu have gone up, along with Covid-19 very much prevalent.

People with low immunity are more at risk

Doctors say that people of any age group can be co-infected and its severity depends upon the health and wellness of the patient. People with low immunity are more vulnerable to catching multiple infections at the same time.

“Vulnerable groups of any age who have other serious health problems — such as heart or lung conditions, weakened immune systems, obesity, or diabetes can get co-infected,” Dr Shahzad Mirza, associate professor at Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center, Pune told Business Insider India.

Dr Mirza further added that getting coinfection is actually condition-related. “It occurs more in immunosuppression, or ICU admitted patients or patients suffering from co-morbidities etc,” he said.

According to Dr Sheela Murali Chakravarthy, who is the director of internal medicine at Fortis Hospital, Bangalore, a person is likely to get co-infection when he/she has one infection and spends a longer period of time in hospitals.

“The chances of co-infection are mostly when the patients are overcrowded or in the emergency or in the ICU or came into contact with other patients,” Dr Murali told Business Insider India.

Does co-infection increase the risk of death?

Getting co-infection or multiple infections at the same time definitely puts a life at risk as these viruses weaken the immunity of the patient.

“Co-infection can increase the risk of death because the more infections you have, the higher is the chance of you getting complications,” Dr Laxman Jessani, infectious disease specialist, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, told Business Insider India.

However, a person down with multiple infections doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she cannot be cured. But they should also be much more careful.

“Double infections doesn’t mean that the chances of reinfection is negligible. It is only possible if one gets proper treatment and care by the doctor and the hospital,” said Dr R V S Bhalla, director internal medicine, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad.

People with coinfection need to be treated under strict monitoring and supervision.

“People with coinfections are more vulnerable to not recover however people with several coinfections can also be treated well and made to recover fully which obviously depends upon the baseline medical health of the patient, available facilities and the seriousness of different infection,” said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant, Internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.

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