HIV/AIDS Flashcards
how is HIV spread ?
sexual transmission injection drug misuse blood products vertical transmission organ transplant
how does HIV affect the immune system ?
the virus infects and destroys CD4 T-helper cells
CD4 count declines and viral load increases
increasing risk of developing infection and tumour
what is usually the CD4 count of someone diagnosed with AIDS ?
<200
what are the different stages of HIV ?
stage 1 - asymptomatic, persistent generalised lymphadenopathy
stage 2 - symptomatic, normal activity, recurrent URTI, weight loss
stage 3 - prolonged diarrhoea, fever, thrush, severe infection
stage 4 - HIV wasting syndrome, severe infections
what are different opportunistic infections in HIV ?
thrush
skin change
PJP TB cryptosporidiosis kaposi sarcoma toxoplasmosis cryptococcal meningitis CMV
what are symptoms of HIV seroconversion ?
flu-like fever malaise and lethargy pharyngitis lymphadenopathy toxic exanthema
what are features of pneumocystis joriveci pneumonia ? PJP
dry cough and increasing SOB over several weeks
CD4 usually <200
commonest late stage AIDS infection
what investigations should you do for PJP ?
chest xray
induced sputum of bronchoscopy for PCR
how do you treat PJP ?
cotrimoxazole
pentamidine
prophylaxis until CD4 >200
where do the antiretroviral drugs act on the virus ?
reverse transcriptase inhibitors - nucleosides and non-nucleosides
integrase inhibitors
portease inhibitors
what are side effects of nucleosides ?
marrow toxicity
neuropathy
lipodystrophy
what are side effects of non-nucleosides ?
rash
hypersensitivity
drug interactions
neuropsychiatric effects
what are side effects of protease inhibitors ?
drug interactions
diarrhoea
lipodystrophy
hyperlipidaemia
what are side effects on integrate inhibitors ?
rash
disturbed sleep
how do you combat lipodystrophy ?
change drugs - less likely with newer agents
cosmetic procedures - facelift, liposuction, fillers
