HIV/AIDS Flashcards
HIV Infection and AIDS
HIV Infection and AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a late stage of infection with the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). It can affect both adults and children often predisposing them to opportunistic infections and certain malignancies. Co-infection with tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis B are particularly frequent in HIV infected individuals and must be screened for in all cases.
The main risk factors for HIV/AIDS remain transmission by exchange of body fluids and blood products through sexual contact, transfusion, needle-stick injury, non-sterile surgical practices and mother to child transfer.
HIV infection is currently not curable. However, for persons living with HIV infection (PLHIV), effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is available country-wide at accredited centres at the regional and district level in both public and private health care facilities to which all diagnosed patients must be referred.
Prevention of infection remains the key to reducing its spread.
Causes
Causes
y Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Risk Factors
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms
y Persistent cough
y Persistent or recurrent diarrhoea y Weight loss
y Skin rashes
y Persistent or recurrent fever
y Mouth ulcers
Signs
y Weight loss
y Chronic diarrhoea
y Prolonged fever
y Generalised lymphadenopathy
y Oropharyngeal candidiasis
y Persistent cough
y Generalised dermatitis
y Recurrent herpes zoster (adults)
y Chronic progressive and disseminated herpes simplex infections
(adults)
y Finger nail changes e.g. blue discoloration of the nails (adults)
y Failure to thrive or slow growth (infants and children)
y Recurrent common infections e.g. otitis media, pharyngitis (infants
and children)
Investigations
Investigations
y Confirmatory HIV test (HIV1, HIV2, HIV1 and 2)
y HIV Viral load
y CD4 count
y Other tests asOther tests asOther tests as required (See Table 17-1
on page )d (See Table 17-1 on page )d (See Table 17-1 on page 462)
Other baseline tests for HIV
Treatment
STG page 462
Referral criteria
Refer all HIV positive patients to an accredited treatment centre in Ghana
HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for exposed healthcare personel
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is short-term antiretroviral treatment to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure by preventing the establishment of infection or preventing new infection. PEP reduces staff exposure to HIV infections at work and also clears possible HIV infection from infected dendritic cells. Workplace accidents or injury expose health workers to body fluids of patients. Risk of exposure to blood and blood borne pathogens is slightly higher for healthcare personnel. The risk of infection for HIV from a percutaneous injury is approximately 0-3% and that of mucous membranes or non- intact skin are much lower. PEP is particularly effective within 1-2 hours and not more than 72 hours after exposure.
Causes
Causes
181οΏ½ HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for exposed healthcare personel
y An exposure considered as possible risk is defined as βan exposure from possibly infected blood, tissue or other body fluids through:
y A percutaneous injury (e.g. a needle stick or cut with a sharp
object) or
y A mucocutaneous membrane or non-intact (chapped, abraded
skin) contact
y The risk of infection appears to be higher after:
y Exposure to a large quantity of blood or to other infectious flu- ids
y Exposure to the blood of a patient in an advanced HIV disease
A deep percutaneous injury or an injury with a hollow bore,
stage
blood filled needle.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs
y None
Symptoms
y None
Steps to prevent occupational transmission of HIV
Page 465
Investigations
Investigations
y Full blood count
y Liver and renal function tests
y Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
y HIV serology or PCR if available
Read page 465 to 467 in STG book
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