HIV/AIDS QUIZ:
1. A student engages in unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol. Having an HIV test immediately afterward seems like the rational thing to do. Based on
known statistics, what will the student’s HIV test probably show?-- The test results won’t be reliable so soon after exposure.
2. A client was clearly very relieved when an HIV test came back negative. “Thank goodness. I’ve had sex several times without a condom, and when one of my
friends said he was sick, I think I panicked.” What is important to emphasize immediately before the client draws too many conclusions?-- The test would not
cover any recent infection, so if the client has had recent unprotected sex, the test should be repeated in 3 months.
3. A mother felt very guilty that her baby was born HIV-positive. When the nurse suggested the usual+DPT (DtaP)+and MMR immunizations, the mother was
extremely upset. “Don’t you know HIV children are immunosuppressed?” she exclaimed. What would be the nurse’s best response?-- “Being HIV-positive,
your child is more likely to catch an infection and be very ill if not immunized.”
4. A school nurse asks a class about the ways HIV can be transmitted. Which comment by a student indicates a need for additional teaching?—“I wouldn’t sit by
someone with HIV.”
5. In the United States, which demographic group has the highest risk for HIV infection?—African American homosexual male
6. What is the most common reason that people do not immediately seek medical treatment when they first become ill with HIV?—they don’t see their
symptoms as possibly being HIV.
7. Which individuals should routinely be assessed for their risk for a STD?—all sexually active adults.
8. Which body fluid is LEAST likely to spread HIV?—saliva
HIV/AIDS BASICS:
Transmission: how do you get it?
oBlood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), vaginal fluid, breast milk.
oUnprotected sex with an infected person, from mother to child in uterus/during childbirth/breastfeeding, sharing syringes/tattoo needles.
oBlood transfusions—accounts for 9,000 out of every 10,000 transmissions.
oVertical transmission: from mother to child
oHorizontal transmission: between any two members of the same species
Epidemiology
oEvery 9.5 minutes someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV.
oMSM: men who have sex with men = population at high risk
oAfrican American males = highest rate of HIV diagnoses
Disease Progression: what happens when you’re infected?
o1. Primary infection : just had sex, you’re infected and don’t know it yet. ***MOST CONTAGIOUS DURING THIS TIME!!!!
o2. Window period : time between primary infection and seroconversion. Still won’t show up on a diagnostic test here.
o3. Asymptomatic chronic HIV : every time that you’ve had sex or shared a needle between 1-3, you’ve been infecting others. Still asymptomatic.
o4. Symptomatic HIV : usually 5 years down the road from the primary infection, usually have flu-like symptoms. **fatigue, HA, pain,
neuropathy, N/V, diarrhea, wasting, rashes, candidiasis.
o5. Advanced HIV
o6. AIDS
oCommon complications: diabetes, lipodystrophy (uneven fat deposits), and lactic acidosis.
Opportunistic Infections
oPneumocystis—lung fungus (they can’t breathe well)
oTB/Cryptococci meningitis
oKaposi’s sarcoma—cancer of the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes.
Commonly Used Laboratory Tests
oHIV Viral Load (PCR): the amount of HIV RNA in a blood sample. Reported as the number of HIV RNA copies/mL of blood. Treatment goal is <50
copies/mL. The higher the viral load, the faster the progression.
oCD4 Cell Percentage/Count : a measurement of the percentage of lymphocytes that are CD4 cells. <20% = immunosuppressed, <14% = AIDS. CD4
cells are helper T cells that fight infection and coordinates cell immune responses. It is the TARGET CELL FOR HIV.
oT-Cell Count: less than 200 = AIDS
oEnzyme Immunoassay (EIA/ELISA): standard HIV antibody SCREENING test.
oWestern Blot (WB): CONFIRMATORY HIV-antibody test.
oRapid HIV antibody screening test : detects HIV antibodies in less than 20 minutes—Expensive.
oHIV RNA test: directly detects genetic material (RNA) of the virus. Can be detected 6-12 days after exposure and 2 weeks before antibodies are even
made—Expensive.
