HIV/AIDS Flashcards

1
Q

What is most serious disease facing the world today?

A

HIV/AIDS

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2
Q

In 2008, South Africa had the largest number of people in the living with HIV/AIDS, nearly ____ million.

A

5.7 million

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3
Q

What factors seem to be responsible for this?(5)

A

-Poverty and social instability -High levels of STIs -Low status of women -Sexual violence -High mobility (migrant labour)

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4
Q

Every day roughly ____ die from AIDS.

A

1000

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5
Q

What is HIV?

A

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the white blood cells called CD4 cells. HIV destroys these CD4 cells, weakening a person’s immunity against infections such as tuberculosis and some cancers.

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6
Q

What is immunodeficiency?

A

The weakness of a person’s immune system.

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7
Q

____ _____ ____ (aka HIV) infects and eventually destroys important cells in the immune system called helper T ____ also known as CD4 cells. These play an essential role in immunity.

A

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Lymphocytes

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8
Q

Is HIV curable?

A

No, once HIV infection is diagnosed, a person has a life-long condition which will go through several stages and has many consequences. The people with HIV need to work with their health care providers to manage their condition successfully.

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9
Q

What does the destruction off the CD4 cells lead to?

A

The destruction of CD4 cells leads to a persistent, progressive and profound weakening of the immune system.

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10
Q

What are some of the symptoms of HIV? (8)

A

-Lack of energy -Rapid weight loss -Frequent fevers and sweats -Persistent or frequent fungal infections (oral or vaginal) -Painful nerve disease called shingles -Persistent skin rashes or flaky skin -Frequent attacks of diarrhoea -White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue or in the mouth and throat

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11
Q

How do blood tests show that HIV has progressed to AIDS?

A

When blood tests show a CD4 count of less than 200 CD4 cells per ml of blood (normal is 600-1200) it is said that the illness has progressed to AIDS.

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12
Q

What is AIDS?

A

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

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13
Q

What is the major problem with AIDS?

A

Because the immune system is so weakened all kinds of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa are able to invade the body. As a result there could a variety of illnesses and opportunistic infections such as drug resistant TB, cancer and pneumonia as well as memory loss, depression and other neurological disorders.

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14
Q

What feeling do sufferers and their family experience? (3)

A

Ostracism Alienation Loneliness

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15
Q

What is the effect on HIV/AIDS on the economy?

A

There are negative effects on the South African economy as productive people are ill and many are dying

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16
Q

HIV/AIDS causes families to be ____, children are orphaned and grandmothers are finding they have to look after the young.

A

Destroyed

17
Q

What are the high financial costs to individuals and their families? (3)

A

-Loss of earning if patients are too ill to work -Travel expeenes to dispensaries and clinics -Burial expenses in the case of deaths

18
Q

What are the governmental costs of HIV/AIDS? (3)

A

-Purchase of drugs for treating HIV and AIDS related illnesses -Maintenance of health facilities and staff -Loss of income due to lost days of work

19
Q

Reducing the ___ load is critical to managing HIV, and this is accomplished primarily through sticking very strictly to a drug ___.

A

Viral Regimen

20
Q

What is the importance of knowing ones HIV status? (2)

A

-If your HIV status is negative you may take preventive measures to prevent an infection -If your HIV status is positive you need to learn to manage the disease and prevent transmission to sexual partners

21
Q

What are ARVs?

A

A drug used to prevent a retrovirus, such as HIV, from replicating and allow the immune system to recover and the individual to feel well again.

22
Q

What is viral load?

A

The amount of HIV in a person’s blood.

23
Q

How does monitoring the viral load help manage HIV/AIDS?

A

It is one of the best tools available to determine if HIV treatment saw working. An undetectable viral load is an excellent sign that treatment is working correctly. An increased viral load could show the treatment is not working properly and a new ARV combination to use.

24
Q

Treating opportunistic infections with ____ that are available for these infections.

A

Drugs

25
Q

How can you boost the immune system to slow down the effects of HIV infection?

A

-Following a good diet, -getting regular exercise, -resting and relaxation, -avoiding harmful substances such as alcohol, -avoiding risky sexual behaviour which could increase the risk of re-infection with a different HIV strain

26
Q

Are traditional and alternative treatment safe?

A

Doctors must be consulted prior, as these might interfere with the immune system and the working of the ARVs.

27
Q

We should care for the ___ and ___ health of sufferers by getting support from family, friends, colleagues, other people living with HIV/AIDS and health ____.

A

Mental Emotional Practitioners

28
Q

How does sensible financial planning help HIV/AIDS?

A

Future provision foe the sufferer and also for their dependants.

29
Q

What is drug resistance?

A

Drug resistance is the ability of disease-causing germs such as bacteria and viruses, to continue multiplying despite the presence of drugs that usually kill them.

30
Q

What does it mean that ARVs consist of a cocktail?

A

They consist of a cocktail of at least 3 dogs, each attacking the virus at a different stage of its replication.

31
Q

What will happen if HIV is allowed to replicate?

A

It will do so at an extremely rapid rate. As a result mutations are very common.

32
Q

What happens if the HIV mutates?

A

It one or more of these mutations that might block the working of the HIV drugs, making them less effective or even completely ineffective, i.e. the virus will become resistant to the drugs and will multiply.

33
Q

How can drug resistance develop? (3)

A

-Not taking the HIV drugs exactly as prescribed -Unsafe sex -Poor absorption of the ARVs

34
Q

How can not taking HIV drugs as prescribed help develop drug resistance?

A

It can lower the blood levels of ARVs in the bloodstream. The HIV will therefore replicate more freely, mutations will accumulate and drug resistance can develop.

35
Q

How can not having safe sex develop drug resistance?

A

A drug-resistant HIV stain being transmitted from another person.

36
Q

How can the poor absorption of the ARV drugs develop drug resistance?

A

It can lower their blood levels which increases the chance of mutations and development of drug resistance.

37
Q

How does HIV replicate?

A