Question

1. Describe in detail the infection (AIDS), including signs and symptoms, testing used to detect the infection and any treatment available.

2. Why is the diagnosis of AIDS delayed at times until a patient presents with an opportunistic infection?

3. What is the difference in "positive for HIV" and AIDS?

Answer 1

1.HIV causes AIDS and interferes with the body's ability to fight infections.

The virus can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids.

Signs and symptoms:
Within a few weeks of HIV infection, flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat and fatigue can occur. Then the disease is usually asymptomatic until it progresses to AIDS. AIDS symptoms include weight loss, fever or night sweats, fatigue and recurrent infections.

Test:The primary tests for diagnosing HIV and AIDs include: ELISA Test ELISA, which stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, is used to detect HIV infection. If an ELISA test is positive, the Western blot test is usually administered to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment:No cure exists for AIDS, but strict adherence to antiretroviral regimens (ARVs) can dramatically slow the disease's progress as well as prevent secondary infections and complications.

Antiviral medicines incNucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) Abacavir, or ABC (Ziagen) Didanosine, or ddl (Videx) Emtricitabine, or FTC (Emtriva) Lamivudine, or 3TC (Epivir) Stavudine, or d4T (Zerit) Tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF (Vemlidy) Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF (Viread), Zidovudine or ZDV (Retrovir)

2.Delayed AIDS diagnosis is associated with advanced immune compromise, increased risk of suboptimal responses to antiretroviral therapy , missed opportunities for preventing onward transmission and increased costs for the healthcare system

3.Being HIV-positive does not mean you have AIDS. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV disease. HIV can lead to AIDS if a person does not get treatment or take care of their health.