AIDSAIDS

What is AIDSWhat is AIDS

Applies to the most advanced stages of Applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection.HIV infection.

CDC defines AIDS as all HIV infected CDC defines AIDS as all HIV infected people who have fewer than 200 CD4 people who have fewer than 200 CD4 positive T cells per cubic millimeter of positive T cells per cubic millimeter of blood.blood. 1000 or more.1000 or more.

The definition also includes 26 clinical The definition also includes 26 clinical conditions that affect people with conditions that affect people with advanced HIV.advanced HIV.

Most of these individuals are Most of these individuals are opportunistic infections.opportunistic infections.

Symptoms of opportunistic infections Symptoms of opportunistic infections common in people with AIDS include:common in people with AIDS include:

Coughing and shortness of breathCoughing and shortness of breath Seizures and lack of coordinationSeizures and lack of coordination Difficult or painful swallowingDifficult or painful swallowing Mental symptoms such as confusion and Mental symptoms such as confusion and

forgetfulnessforgetfulness Severe and persistent diarrheaSevere and persistent diarrhea

FeverFever Vision lossVision loss Nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomitingNausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting Weight loss and extreme fatigueWeight loss and extreme fatigue Severe headachesSevere headaches ComaComa

Children with AIDS get the same opportunistic Children with AIDS get the same opportunistic infections, but they also have severe forms of infections, but they also have severe forms of bacterial infections.bacterial infections.

Prone to certain types of cancers:Prone to certain types of cancers: Kaposi’s sarcomaKaposi’s sarcoma Cervical cancerCervical cancer LymphomasLymphomas

Cancers are more aggressive and more difficult Cancers are more aggressive and more difficult to treat.to treat.

How is HIV infection How is HIV infection diagnosed?diagnosed?

Testing an individual’s blood for the Testing an individual’s blood for the presence of antibodies to HIV.presence of antibodies to HIV.

HIV antibodies do not reach detectable HIV antibodies do not reach detectable levels until one to three months following levels until one to three months following infection, and may take up to six months.infection, and may take up to six months.

People exposed to the virus should get People exposed to the virus should get tested within 6 weeks to 12 months after tested within 6 weeks to 12 months after possible exposure to the virus.possible exposure to the virus. Begin proper treatment.Begin proper treatment. Avoid high-risk behavior.Avoid high-risk behavior.

Two different antibody tests are used.Two different antibody tests are used. 1. ELISA1. ELISA 2. Western Blot2. Western Blot

Babies born to mothers infected with HIV Babies born to mothers infected with HIV may or may not be infected.may or may not be infected.

Babies will carry their mothers’ antibodies Babies will carry their mothers’ antibodies for several months.for several months. 15 months of age.15 months of age.

How is HIV infection How is HIV infection treated?treated?

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RT inhibitors).inhibitors (RT inhibitors). Interrupts the early stage of the virus making Interrupts the early stage of the virus making

copies of itself.copies of itself. AZTAZT May slow the spread of HIV in the body and May slow the spread of HIV in the body and

delay the start of opportunistic infections.delay the start of opportunistic infections.

Protease inhibitorsProtease inhibitors Interrupt virus replication at a later stage.Interrupt virus replication at a later stage.

HIV can become resistant to any of these HIV can become resistant to any of these drugs, so a combination treatment is drugs, so a combination treatment is used.used.

HAART – combination of RT and HAART – combination of RT and Protease inhibitors.Protease inhibitors.

HAART is a major factor in significantly HAART is a major factor in significantly reducing the number of deaths from reducing the number of deaths from AIDS in the U.S.AIDS in the U.S.

Antiviral drugs do have severe side Antiviral drugs do have severe side effects. Possible negative drug effects. Possible negative drug interactions.interactions.

Drugs available to help treat opportunistic Drugs available to help treat opportunistic infections.infections.

Cancers treated with radiation, Cancers treated with radiation, chemotherapy, alpha interferon.chemotherapy, alpha interferon.

How can HIV infection be How can HIV infection be prevented?prevented?

AVOID BEHAVIORS THAT PUT AN AVOID BEHAVIORS THAT PUT AN INDIVIDUAL AT RISK. INDIVIDUAL AT RISK.

ABSTINANCE.ABSTINANCE.