Nursing 213

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide infections tend to increase. This causes the body to go into a cycle of chronic infection and the disease then becomes full-blown AIDS. At this time, there is a risk of malignancy and extreme complications like pneumonia, systemic fungal infections, and death. Death can occur when the CD4 count falls below 100 and can happen as early as 10 years after exposure to the virus; or as long as 20 years after exposure. HIV/AIDS is common in homosexual men, intravenous drug users, people who received blood transfusions in the mid-eighties, and heterosexuals with multiple partners. The HIV virus can also be passed frommother to fetus in pregnancy. It is important to remember that most people live with HIV and never develop full-blown AIDS. HIV is the label for early infection, the asymptomatic stage until mild symptoms begin. AIDS is the label for the “full-blown” infection, meaning the virus has attacked the humoral and cell-mediated immune functions and allowed the body to develop severe secondary infections. During the course of the illness, some patients may develop a condition called Acute Retroviral Syndrome three to six months after exposure. This illness comes with flu-like symptoms and is an immune response to exposure. This occurrence is called seroconversion. After this, laboratory tests will show antibodies to HIV and patients will have a positive serologic test. Stages of HIV/AIDS • Stage one, primary HIV-1 infection: This is the initial infection phase. Approximately two to four weeks after exposure the patient may or may not experience a flu-like illness. The patient may also develop lymphadenopathy at this time. After the flu-like symptoms subside, laboratory tests for the HIV viral load may be positive. They will also show a rise in CD8 cells and a lower CD4 count. • Stage two, chronic HIV: This phase may or may not be symptomatic, but is usually asymptomatic. This phase lasts up to 10 years or longer and during this phase the body produces antibodies to the virus (Anti-HIV antibodies). It is during this time that many patients find out they are HIV positive. The main issue with this infection is that it is a “retrovirus” meaning it hijacks the very cells that the body uses to fight off infection. When this happens, the virus begins to replicate itself faster than the body can produce CD4 cells and T-cells. It is toward the end of this phase that medical treatment is started. Anti-virals can help prevent the virus from entering the CD4 cells in the first place and can help to reduce the viral load on the body, but will not cure the disease. • Stage three, AIDS infection: Otherwise known as “full-blown AIDS,” this is the three to five year time period when patients experience many different infections and possible cancer, including one type known as Kaposi’s sarcoma. This deadly form of cancer is characterized by purple lesions all over the skin. Patients can also experience chronic pneumonia, systemic fungal infections, and other life-threatening complications. Aggressive treatment and medication compliance are necessary during this phase to prolong life.

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