Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Question 1

What is the virus that causes AIDS?

Answer 1

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Question 2

How is HIV transmitted?

Answer 2

Sexual Intercourse, Direct contract with infected blood/body fluids (semen breast milk) HIV mother gives birth to baby

Question 3

What are symptoms of HIV?

Answer 3

Fever, weight loss, night sweats, diarrhea, fatigue.

Question 4

How is the presence of HIV confirmed?

Answer 4

Screening is done first to see if HIV antibodies are present. The test is performed to specifically identify the HIV antibodies.

Question 5

What is the name of HIV screening test.

Answer 5

ELISA

Question 6

What is the name of the test that confirms the screening test?

Answer 6

Western Bolt

Question 7

How does HIV attack the body?

Answer 7

It attacks the immune system by destroying T-lymphocytes. The virus also rapidly self replicates.

Question 8

What is so important about T-lymphocytes?

Answer 8

T cells help immune system recognize and fight pathogens?

Question 9

What is another name for T-lymphocytes?

Answer 9

CD4

Question 10

Why is the CD4 count important?

Answer 10

The lower the CD4 count the more damage the virus has done to the body.

Question 11

What is a Normal CD4 count?

Answer 11

700-1000

Question 12

What is the normal CD4 count in a client with HIV?

Answer 12

Anything at or above 500,

Client is considered in good health. If below 500, HIV had progressed to AIDS.

Question 13

If a clients CD4 count is below 200, client is at risk for what?

Answer 13

Opportunistic Infections

Question 14

List some opportunistic infections

Answer 14

Oral Pharyngeal Canididal Infection (mouth fungus) 
Kaposi’s sarcoma (skin cancer) 
Pneumocystis pneumonia
Cytomegalovirus (blindness) 
Meningitis

Question 15

What is the goal of HIV medications?

Answer 15

To interfere with the virus replicating.

Question 16

The most important medication to know is

Answer 16

Zidovudine (AZT,Retrovir)

Question 17

Which isolation precautions are used with HIV?

Answer 17

Universal precautions patients do not have to tell you they have HIV treat everyone as if they are infected.

Question 18

How do the precautions change with AIDS?

Answer 18

If the client has a low CD4 count and is at risk for opportunistic infection:
Implement
-private room
-Reverse isolation
RN wears gown goggles mask when in direct contact with blood or bodily fluids.

Question 19

What are teaching points for parents who have a child with HIV?

Answer 19

Clean up body fluid/blood with 10:1 water/ bleach ratio

• Get all immunizations except MMR,varicella and oral poliovirus. These are live immunizations.
• High Calorie, high protein diet
• Gloved when changing diapers