HIV Flashcards
What is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, specifically CD4+ T cells, leading to immune deficiency.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV refers to the virus itself, while AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is the advanced stage of HIV infection characterised by severe immune deficiency and opportunistic infections.
What are the common modes of HIV transmission?
HIV is transmitted through blood, sexual fluids, and from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
What are the main types of HIV?
The two main types are HIV-1, the most common worldwide, and HIV-2, which is less common and found primarily in West Africa.
What are the stages of HIV infection?
The stages include acute infection, clinical latency, and AIDS.
What are the symptoms of acute HIV infection?
Symptoms include fever, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, rash, and flu-like symptoms.
What happens during the clinical latency stage of HIV?
During this stage, the virus replicates at low levels, and the person may be asymptomatic.
What are opportunistic infections?
Opportunistic infections are infections that occur due to the weakened immune system in HIV/AIDS patients, such as pneumocystis pneumonia or candidiasis.
What are the key risk factors for acquiring HIV?
Risk factors include unprotected sex, sharing needles, receiving contaminated blood products, and being born to an HIV-positive mother.
How is HIV diagnosed?
HIV is diagnosed through serological testing, including antibody/antigen combination tests or HIV RNA testing for early detection.
What is the role of CD4 count in HIV management?
CD4 count measures the number of CD4+ T cells and helps assess immune function and monitor disease progression.
What is the role of viral load in HIV management?
Viral load measures the amount of HIV RNA in the blood and is used to monitor treatment efficacy.
What is antiretroviral therapy (ART)?
ART is the treatment for HIV, involving a combination of drugs to suppress viral replication and restore immune function.
What are the main classes of antiretroviral drugs?
Classes include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase inhibitors, and entry inhibitors.
What are the common side effects of antiretroviral therapy?
Side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue, lipid abnormalities, and, in some cases, long-term toxicities like kidney or liver dysfunction.
