HIV/AIDS

Question 1

What immune cells does HIV target?

Answer 1

helper T cells

Question 2

How do helper T cells work?

Answer 2

release chemicals that attract other WBCs to the site of infection

chemicals also cause other WBCs to multiply and create antibodies that mark bacteria to be destroyed by the immune system

Question 3

HIV + ___ = AIDS

Answer 3

opportunistic infection

Question 4

Examples of opportunistic infections

Answer 4

meningitis, encephalitis, pneumonia, TB, kaposi’s sarcoma, non-hodgkin’s lymphoma

Question 5

How does HIV use CD4 T cells?

Answer 5

uses the cells to make new viral particles and multiply HIV in the body

Question 6

How do antiretroviral medications work?

Answer 6

prevent the virus from attaching to your cells

prevent the creation, assembly, and spread of new viruses

don’t completely remove the virus from your body but slows down the production to help your body fight off infection

Question 7

Everyone with AIDS has HIV; but everyone with ___ doesn’t have ___ .

Answer 7

HIV, AIDS

Question 8

How is HIV transmitted?

Answer 8

sexual contact, blood, and body fluids

perinatally: can cross placenta, transmission usually at delivery

Question 9

Lab diagnostics for HIV

Answer 9

ELISA and western blot analysis (ELISA is always followed by western blot to confirm diagnosis of HIV); used to measure HIV antibodies

OraQuick: in-home HIV test

Question 10

Priority problems in HIV

Answer 10

most important is risk for infection

pain, inadequate nutrition, inadequate oxygenation, diarrhea, confusion, reduced self-esteem

could be important for these people to see a psychiatrist because it impacts mental health

Question 11

Primary drug therapy for HIV

Answer 11

HAART: highly active antiretroviral therapy (multiple drugs used together in combination)

these are expensive but there are resources to help patients get them