Chapter 30 Lesson 2

•Treatment for HIV

and

AIDS

Detecting HIV Antibodies

• 2 phases of testing that have and accuracy of 99%

• Takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months for the body to produce antibodies following infection

• After 6 months testing should indicate accurately whether infection is present itn the body

• HIV- Human Immuno deficiency virus• Acquired Immuno deficiency syndrome

HIV Testing

• 1st Test – ELISA - a test that screens for the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood, not for the HIV or AIDS virus

• Very sensitive and will be reactive even if there are only one or two antibodies in the blood sample

• Hemophelia, hepatitis, and pregnancy can cause false reactive readings

• ELISA will be repeated if you get a positive test the first time

HIV Testing

• 2nd Test – cnfirmatory test

• Western Blot, IFA or RIA will be given

• A positive test on one of these will confirm HIV antibodies present in the blood

• The person may show no symptoms or sign of infection

Symptoms of HIV Infection

• Asymptomatic – Earliest signs phase of HIV• Period of months or years during which the virus

is present in the blood but there are no symptoms or sign of the disease

• Even though symptoms may not appear for 10-12 years a person infected with HIV will almost always develop AIDS

• Person goes through different stages of disease

Symptoms of HIV Infection

• 2nd stage – Symptomatic – Symptoms

• Fever, rash, headache, body ache, swollen glands – may be mistaken as flu

• These symptoms may pass over time the person’s ability to fight pathogens decreases, along with the T-Helper cell count

Common AIDS- Opportunistic Illnesses

• Page 666 in Text Book

• Pneumocystis carinii pnuemonia

• Kaposi’s sarcoma – a rare skin cancer

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Research and Treatment

• Search for vaccine and treatment is ongoing

• Once HIV enters body it reproduces itself, about a billion a day

• Everyday the body produces new immune cells to fight the virus, and eventually the immune system becomes exhausted and overwhelmed by the virus

Research and Treatment

• New medication interfere with HIV’s ability to reproduce

• Protease inhibitors – when used in combination with other antiviral medications such as zidovudine (AZT) and 3TC, has reduced the amount of HIV in the body

• SEE PAGE 667

Obstacles to Research and Treatment

• One of the biggest problems is that HIV is in the family of retroviruses which reproduce in a manner that makes it difficult to combat

• New strains of the virus have emerged

• Affordability of treatment

Preventing the Spread of HIV/AIDS

• HIV is preventable

• Avoiding high risk behavior

• Making informed decisions

• Making responsible decisions

• Abstinence is the only 100% sure way of never contracting the disease

Abstinence and HIV/AIDS

• Avoid situations and events where drug use or the pressure to have sexual activity is likely to occur

• Choose relationships carefully, avoid forming dating relationships with someone whom you know to be sexually active

• Avoid known drug users