ID Flashcards
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- RNA retrovirus that enters and destroys CD4 T helper cells
What is the course of illness if infected by HIV?
1 - seroconversion flu-like illness
2 - asymptomatic period
3 - AIDS defining illness
How is HIV transmitted?
- unprotected anal/vaginal/oral sexual activity
- mother to child (vertical)
- mucous membrane/blood/open wound
Give an example of 4 AIDS defining illnesses
1 Kaposi’s sarcoma
2 PCP
3 cytomegalovirus
4 oesaphageal candidiasis
How do you test for HIV?
1 P24 antibody blood test
2 PCR testing for HIV RNA (viral load)
3 CD4 count
At what CD4 count is a patient considered to have AIDS?
<200
How is HIV treated?
Antiretroviral treatment
Give an example of 2 antiretroviral used to treat/prevent HIV
Tenofovir
Emtricitabine
What is the dosage regime for PrEP?
EITHER
daily
OR
event based (anal only)
Which organism most commonly causes malaria?
Plasmodium falciparum parasite
In basic terms, what is the life cycle of malaria?
1 - malaria spores injected into blood stream and travel to liver
2 - INFECT RBC
3 - take 48 hrs to reproduce = every 48hrs RBC ruptures and releases +++ spores into blood
(haemolytic anaemia + 48hrly fever spikes)
When would you get malaria after being bitten?
Incubation period = 1-4 weeks
(although can lie dormant for years!!)
What are 3 typical SIGNS of malaria
- Pallor = anaemia
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Jaundice = haemolytic anaemia
How do you diagnose malaria?
1 - malaria blood film
(sent on 3 consec days to match life cycle)
How is malaria treated?
ARTESUNATE
QUININE