AIDS

Question 1

what does AIDS stand for

Answer 1

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Question 2

what is the infection that causes aids

Answer 2

viral infection

Question 3

what virus is specific to aids

Answer 3

HIV

- human immunodeficiency virus

Question 4

what is occurring with HIV

Answer 4

increase of immunosuppression

Question 5

what does an increase of immunosuppression cause

Answer 5

opportunists infections and cancers

Question 6

What type of virus is HIV

Answer 6

retrovirus

Question 7

what does retro virus mean

Answer 7

means it replicates in the host cell via reverse cell transcription

Question 8

transmission of HIV

Answer 8

sexual contant
maternal (utero, labor, delivery, lactation)
blood

Question 9

reservoir of HIV

Answer 9

semen
saliva
blood

Question 10

what prevents occupational health workers from contracting the virus

Answer 10

universal precautions

Question 11

what are the three phases of HIV

Answer 11

primary infection
latent period
overt AIDS

Question 12

how long does the primary infection last

Answer 12

weeks to months

Question 13

what occurs in the primary infection phase

Answer 13

window period
seroconversion
high viral load
low CD4 count

Question 14

what is the window period

Answer 14

the time it takes to be infected with HIV and to produce a positive test (30 days)

Question 15

what is the seroconversion

Answer 15

the time it takes for AB to be produced and detected

Question 16

what does it mean when there is a decrease CD4 count

Answer 16

protein count of surface receptors on T-helper cells (suppressing the immune response)

Question 17

what is occurring in the latent period

Answer 17

asymptomatic but damage is still occurring

• lymphatic tissue damage
• resp infection
• fatigue

Question 18

when does overt AIDS occur

Answer 18

~ 10years

Question 19

what occurs in the overt AIDS phase

Answer 19

target of T-helper cells, b cells, macrophages
destroys immune system and defences
increase in new infection and latent pathogens
various organs affected

Question 20

Diagnosis of HIV

Answer 20

clinical progression
ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay)
Western Blot Assay
PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
P-24 Ag
NAT (nucleic acid test)

Question 21

what is the ELISA test

Answer 21

measures ab against the virus (needs 90 days)

Question 22

what is the western blot assay

Answer 22

detects ab against specific antigens

Question 23

what is the PCR

Answer 23

polymerase chain reaction measures the genetic components of the virus
($$$ and specific)

Question 24

what is NAT

Answer 24

nucleic acid test

- building blocks of DNA and RNA

Question 25

Manifestations

Answer 25

worsen with progression
opportunistic infections
- resp (TB/peumonia)
- GI
-NS (dementia, encephalopathy)
opportunistic cancers
- kaposi's sarcoma
- non Hodgkins lymphoma
- cervical cancer

Question 26

what is kaposi’s sarcoma

Answer 26

lesions on the skin, mouth, lymph nodes

but originates in the endothelium of blood vessels

Question 27

Treatment

Answer 27

no cure
anti virals to limit proliferation
- cocktail of AV to target different steps
- AV specific to retroviruses

Question 28

Diagnosis of AIDS`

Answer 28

CDC: cd4 count below the threshold, plus 2 opportunistic infections/CA
WHO: says you need 20 or more opportunistic infections/cancers