Coinfection is a medical term meaning that you have two or more infections in your body at the same time. If you are living with both HIV and hepatitis C, then you have HIV and hepatitis C coinfection. These two illnesses are very different, so it is important that you learn about both of them.

Many people who are living with HIV also have been exposed to other infections, such as hepatitis C. Over half of people who acquire HIV through injecting drugs also acquire hepatitis C. Overall, more than one third of all Americans living with HIV have hepatitis C, too.

Having both viruses also makes it a little harder to deal with either one. There are specific medical issues that are unique to coinfected patients. Anyone known to have one of these viral infections will be checked for coinfection with the other virus.

• More information about coinfection