HIV Flashcards
(18 cards)
About human immunodeficiency virus
- Can’t get rid of it
- Can be controlled – not cured
- Destroys CD4 cells (T cells) (body weak without these)
- AIDS is most severe form
What is a healthy CD4 count?
800-1300 cells/microliter
What is the treatment for HIV?
Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
- must be taken daily - can decrease risk of infecting others - can prolong life
Stage 1 of HIV
Acute HIV Infection
- flu like illness lasting weeks - very contagious at this time
Stage 2 of HIV
Clinical Latency
- reproducing at low levels - no S/S - can still transmit disease
Stage 3 of HIV
AIDS
- damaged immune system susceptible to infection - T Cells drop below 200 cells/mm - survival – 3 years
Signs and symptoms of AIDS
- Chills/fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat/mouth ulcers
- Thrush
- Recurring diarrhea
- Cancer of cervix - woman
- Men: rectal cancer
- Memory loss
- Cancer
- Death d/t dementia, opportunistic (tcells below 200)
How to stay healthy with HIV?
- Begin treatment as soon as diagnosed
- Take meds as directed to control load
What does ART do?
- Slows progression
- Protects the immune system
- Reduces the chance of transmission
(pt needs regular check-ups during tx)
Ways HIV can be transmitted?
Through bodily fluids!!
- Blood - Semen & pre-seminal fluid, - Rectal & Vaginal fluids - Breast milk - Needle exchange
(With other STDs 3 x the chance for transmission!)
HIV prevention
- Get tested & treated
- Meds & condoms
Diagnostic studies for HIV
-ELISA and Western Blot
-May take 2 months to detect antibodies
-P24 tests for viral load
-keeps track of the CD4 Tcells and viral loads
-Abnormal blood tests common
NOTE: do elisa first if positive do blot
How to know if therapy is working?
- Frequent blood draws to monitor viral load
- If working: cd4 go up, viral load goes down
CD4/T Cell levels
800-1300 - healthy
<500 - not good
<200 - open to diseases
<50 - severe wt loss, blindness, death
Main goals of HIV
- Keep viral load low
- Maintain immune function
- Improve quality of life (homeless?)
- Prevent opportunistic disease and new infections
- Reduce disability
Nursing interventions for HIV
Teach to:
- Adhere to drug regimens
- Promote healthy lifestyle
- Prevent transmission to others
- Have supportive relationships
- Maintain productive activity
- Explore spirituality
- Come to terms with living with disease, disability, and death
- Cope with symptoms and treatments
Health promotion
- Prevention of HIV
- HIV Testing
- Early intervention
- Promote a healthy immune system
CDC Strategies
- Use testing as routine health care
- Use rapid testing
- Work to modify risky behaviors
- Offer tests universally to pregnant women
