HIV

Question 1

What does HIV stand for?

Answer 1

Human immunodeficiency virus

Question 2

What is AIDs?

Answer 2

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome that occurs at the end stages of a HIV infection

Question 3

How does AIDs affect the immune systme?

Answer 3

Affects the immune system enough to make the person susceptible to recurrent and unusual infections.

Question 4

What type of virus is HIV?

Answer 4

RNA virus

Question 5

What is the most common type of HIV?

Answer 5

HIV-1

Question 6

What effects does the virus have in the body?

Answer 6

Virus enters and destroys the CD4 T helper cells

Question 7

How can HIV be spread?

Answer 7

Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sexual activity
Vertical transmission- Mother to child at any stage of pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding
Mucous membrane, blood or open wound exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids

Question 8

How can transmission be prevented during birth?

Answer 8

Mode of delivery is dependent on viral load

Question 9

What would a woman’s viral load need to be for her to be okay to deliver vaginally?

Answer 9

Viral load < 50 copies / ml

Question 10

What viral load would indicate a caesarean section?

Answer 10

> 50 copies copies / ml and in all women with > 400 copies / ml

Question 11

When might you need to give medication during a caesarean section?

Answer 11

If the viral load is unknown or there are > 10000 copies / ml

Question 12

What medication might you give to a woman during a caesarean section?

Answer 12

IV zidovudine

Question 13

What is the prophylaxis treatment dependent on?

Answer 13

The mothers viral load

Question 14

What are low risk babies, where mums viral load is < 50 copies per ml given?

Answer 14

zidovudine for 4 weeks

Question 15

What are high risk babies, where mums viral load is > 50 copies / ml given?

Answer 15

Zidovudine, lamivudine and nevirapine for 4 weeks

Question 16

What is not recommended for a mother with HIV?

Answer 16

Breast feeding

Question 17

Why might babies tested for HIV under 18 months test positive?

Answer 17

Due to maternal antibodies

Question 18

Does a positive HIV test in someone under 18 months definitively mean they have HIV?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

What are the 2 tests for HIV?

Answer 19

HIV antibody screen

HIV viral load

Question 20

What does the HIV antibody screen test for?

Answer 20

Antibodies

Question 21

What is the problem with the HIV antibody screen?

Answer 21

It can give false positive in babies of HIV positive mums, due to maternal antibodies that cross the placenta.

Question 22

How long can it take for antibodies to develop after exposure to the virus?

Answer 22

Up to 3 months

Question 23

What does the HIV viral load test?

Answer 23

Tests directly for viruses in the blood

Question 24

What is the problem with HIV viral load testing?

Answer 24

This will never be falsely positive, but may come back as “undetectable” in patients on antiretroviral therapy

Question 25

When should HIV be tested for?

Answer 25

Babies to HIV positive parents
When immunodeficiency is suspected- unusual, severe or frequent infections
Young people who are sexually active
Risk factors such as needle stick injuries, sexual abuse or IV drug use

Question 26

How many times are babies to HIV positive parents tested?

Answer 26

Twice

Question 27

When are babies with HIV positive parents tested?

Answer 27

At 3 months and at 24 months

Question 28

What is used to test babies with HIV positive parents?

Answer 28

HIV viral load

Question 29

What medication is given to suppress the HIV infection?

Answer 29

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

Question 30

What is given to children with low CD4 counts?

Answer 30

Prophylactic co-trimoxazole (Septrin)

Question 31

What does Prophylactic co-trimoxazole (Septrin) protect against?

Answer 31

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP)

Question 32

What is the aim of antiretroviral therapy?

Answer 32

To achieve a normal CD4 count and undetectable viral load.