HIV & AIDS

Question 1

Why is 1987 significant in the hx of HIV & AIDS?

Answer 1

The first HIV drug, AZT, was introduced

Question 2

Why is 1996/1997 significant in the hc of HIV & AIDS?

Answer 2

HIV becomes a treatable, chronic, condition controllable w/ meds

(1995 “cocktail” drugs emerged, POZ px’s begin living longer)

Question 3

After the initial development of anti bodies (sero-conversion reaction), for how long does the virus go into latency for?

Answer 3

Up to 10 or 12 years

Question 4

What happens during the latency period?

Answer 4

Any initial drop in immune cells is recovered, and the patient has no symptoms or complications from HIV in this remission period

Question 5

Can a person transmit HIV during the latency phases?

Answer 5

No with successful medication.

Yes, if unmedicated.

Question 6

True or false: Death from HIV is actually death from relatively common bacteria that the body can no longer defend itself against.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

For an HIV positive person who is successfully medicated risk of serious illness, or death is most commonly related to…

Answer 7

• cardiovascular side effects (high cholesterol, cardiac arrest)
• higher incidents of cancer at lower ages than general population
• kidney and liver failure occur at higher rates

Question 8

What are the two main indicators used to track the progression of HIV?

Answer 8

• CD 4+ (T – cell) count
• Viral load count

Question 9

True or false: viral load helps measure the strength of a persons immune system.

Answer 9

False: viral load test indicates how active HIV is in their body

Question 10

True or false: CD4+ cells indicate how active HIV is in the patient’s body.

Answer 10

False. CD4+ cells help measure the strength of a persons immune system the more CD4+ cells a person has the stronger their immune system is.

Question 11

The average amount of CD4+ cells as we age

25 yrs old:
50 yrs old:
75 yrs old:

Answer 11

25 yrs old: 1000+/ microlitre of blood
50 yrs old: 700 - 900/microlitre of blood
75 yrs old: 500 - 700/ microlitre of blood

Question 12

In ontario undetectable means that…

Answer 12

There are fewer than 40 copies of the virus in the blood than the test can measure

Question 13

With successful medication viral load ____

Answer 13

Decreases

Question 14

HIV is dead within ____ of leaving the body & in fact as soon as ___

Answer 14

• 2 mins
• 30 sec

Question 15

List body fluids with sufficient concentration that could transmit HIV w/o significant exposure to air.

Answer 15

Blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal + anal secretions

Question 16

True or false: Saliva, urine, sweat & tears are insufficient body fluids for transmitting.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What are the side effects that can result d/t being immunized compromised

Answer 17

• PCP
• MAC
• CMV
• Wasting

Question 18

What side effects show up when viral load is very high?

Answer 18

• kaposi sarcoma

Question 19

What are the HIV medication related side effects?

Answer 19

• Lipodystrophy
• Peripheral Neuropathy

Question 20

When does PCP typically occur within HIV px’s?

Answer 20

When CD4+ counts drop below 100

Question 21

Form of pneumonia caused by yeast - like fungus commonly found in the lungs of healthy individuals. Relativistic rare in ppl w/ normal immune systems but common amongst ppl with severely weakened immune systems.

Answer 21

PCP ( Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia)

Question 22

A tumor caused by a virus from the herpes family. Manifests as flat blotches or raised nodules.

Answer 22

Kaposi sarcoma

Question 23

What are the most common sites of KS (karposi sarcoma)

Answer 23

• LL, mouth, genitalia, face, gastro-intestinal and respiratory tracts