HIV

Question 1

HIV

Answer 1

human immunodeficiency virus

Question 2

Retrovirus

Answer 2

once in the blood - HIV “hijacks” certain cells - CD4+ T-cells - when infected - HIV factory - gradually CD4+ T cell count fall - viral numbers rise - patient dies of oportunistic infections or cancer.

Question 3

CD4+ T-cells

Answer 3

800 - 1000 in healthy person; function - direct immune system defenses + regulates the activity of all immune system cells .

Question 4

Body fluids with highest concentration of HIV

Answer 4

semen + blood

Question 5

Sexual transmission

Answer 5

Abstinence + Be faithful + Condoms;

Question 6

Parenteral Transmission

Answer 6

sharing needles; contaminated blood products; drug users - clean with household bleach

Question 7

Perinatal Transmission

Answer 7

25 % not using drug therapy

8 % using drug therapy

Question 8

Needle stick

Answer 8

Standard precautions

Question 9

Diagnosis of AIDS

Answer 9

requires that person be HIV positive and have either a CD4+ T cell count of less that 200 cells/mm3 or an opportunistic infection

Question 10

Opportunistic infections

Answer 10

caused by organisms that are present as part of the normal environment and kept in check by normal immune function .

Question 11

Signs & Symptoms : HIV

Answer 11

50%-90% of people first infected with HIV develop an acute infection within 4 weeks 
including. This may present as:
o Fever
o Night Sweats/ Chills
o Headache
o Muscle Aches/ Joint Pain
o Rash
o Sore Throat

Question 12

Testing

Answer 12

sting

1. CBC (Lymphocyte Counts/ CD4+ T-cell &CD8+ T-cell counts)
2. Antibody Tests : ELISA & Western Blot
3. Viral Load Testing : useful in monitoring disease progression and treatment effectiveness.

Question 13

HIV vs. AIDS

Answer 13

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS
• AIDS  is diagnosed when:
• HIV+ Infection AND
• CD4 Count is less than 200      OR
• Opportunistic Infections

Question 14

Protozoal Infections

Answer 14

1. PCP ( most common) : dyspnea, tachycardia, dry cough, fever, fatigue, weight loss.
2. Toxoplasmosis encephalitis ( cat feces, undercooked meet): changes in mental status, neurologic deficit, fever, headache
3. Cryptosporidiosis ( intestinal infection): diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance

Question 15

Fungul Infections

Answer 15

1. Candida albicans (intestinal flora) : mouth - cottage cheese like yellowish white plague; Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection)
2. Cryptococcosis ( debilitating meningitis) : fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion.
3. Histoplasmosis - begins as respiratory infection, spread.

Question 16

Bacterial Infections

Answer 16

1. MAC - mucobacterium avium complex (most common) : systemic infection - fever, debility, weight loss, malaise, swollen lymph glands, organ disease .
2. Tuberculosis Mucobacterium : cough, dyspnea, chest pain, fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, anorexia.

Question 17

Viral Infections

Answer 17

1. CMV - cytomegalovirus - affect many sites
2. HSV - herpes simplex virus : perirectal, oral, genital areas: numbness + tingling before blister forms ; fever , bleeding, pain, lymph notes enlargement
3. VZV - varicella - zoster virus: previous diagnosis of chicken pox - shingles.

Question 18

Cancer/ Malignancies

Answer 18

1. Kaposis sarcoma (KS) develops as small purpulish brown raised lesions ( not painful) ; can occur anywhere on the body.
2. Malignant lymphomas

Question 19

Endocrine complications:

Answer 19

gonadal dysfunction, body shape changes, adrenal insufficiency, diabetes.

Question 20

Antiretroviral Therapy

Answer 20

only inhibits viral replication and does not kill the virus ; coctails (multiple drugs are used). Important issue - drug- resistant mutations in the HIV organism .

Question 21

HAART

Answer 21

Highly active antiretroviral therapy.