WEEK 9: Lymphatic System Flashcards
What is HIV?
HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4+ T-helper cells.
What happens if HIV is left untreated?
HIV reduces the body’s ability to fight infections and disease.
What is AIDS?
AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system and opportunistic infections or certain cancers.
What is Hepatitis A?
A viral liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV), primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person.
Is Hepatitis A a chronic disease?
No, Hepatitis A is usually self-limiting and does not cause chronic disease.
What is Hepatitis B?
A liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), transmitted through blood, body fluids, or perinatal transmission.
What complications can arise from Hepatitis B?
It can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
What is Hepatitis C?
A viral liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.
What can happen if Hepatitis C is left untreated?
It often progresses to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
How can an individual become HIV positive?
HIV is transmitted through:
* Unprotected sexual contact
* Sharing contaminated needles
* Blood transfusions
* Perinatal transmission
* Accidental exposure to infected blood.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV refers to the virus itself and the infection it causes, while AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection.
What is an AIDS-defining illness?
An illness that occurs when the CD4+ T-cell count drops below 200 cells/mm³ or when certain opportunistic infections develop.
List risk factors associated with contracting HIV or AIDS.
- Unprotected sex with an infected person
- Multiple sexual partners
- Injection drug use with shared needles
- Being born to or breastfed by an HIV-positive mother
- Occupational exposure
- Receiving unscreened blood products.
How is HIV transmitted?
- Sexual transmission
- Blood-to-blood contact
- Perinatal transmission.
Briefly describe the pathophysiology of HIV.
HIV targets CD4+ T-helper cells, enters host cells, reverse transcribes RNA into DNA, integrates into the host genome, and destroys CD4+ cells.
What are the manifestations of HIV during acute infection?
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Sore throat
- Rash
- Muscle aches.
What occurs during the chronic phase of HIV?
Asymptomatic or mild symptoms such as fatigue and recurrent infections.
What are common manifestations of AIDS?
- Severe opportunistic infections
- Weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea
- Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Define opportunistic infection.
Infections that occur in immunocompromised individuals due to weakened immune defenses.
Give examples of opportunistic infections.
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Cytomegalovirus
- Candidiasis.
What are some complications associated with HIV?
- Neurological disorders
- HIV wasting syndrome
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Chronic diarrhea and malnutrition.
What is Kaposi’s Sarcoma?
A cancer that affects blood vessel linings, linked to human herpesvirus-8, presenting as purple, red, or brown skin lesions.
What are prevention interventions for HIV?
- Education
- Condom use
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Needle exchange programs
- Screening and early diagnosis
- Prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
What subjective data should be assessed for a client with HIV?
- Recent exposure risks
- Symptoms
- Sexual history
- IV drug use
- Weight loss
- Fatigue.
What objective data should be monitored for a client with HIV?
- CD4+ count
- Viral load
- Presence of opportunistic infections
- Nutritional status.
What are some nursing diagnoses for a client with HIV?
- Risk for infection
- Impaired skin integrity
- Imbalanced nutrition
- Anxiety.
What are goals in the nursing process for a client with HIV?
- Prevent infections
- Maintain adequate nutrition
- Promote adherence to ART therapy
- Support mental health.
What nursing interventions are important for a client with HIV?
- Monitor CD4+ count
- Administer medications
- Teach adherence
- Prevent infections
- Provide nutritional support
- Offer psychosocial support.
What indicates successful evaluation for a client with HIV?
- Stable CD4+ count
- No opportunistic infections
- Improved nutritional status.
