HIV/AIDS Overview Quiz

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus targets and weakens the body's immune system, leaving it vulnerable to infections.

A retrovirus is a type of virus that uses RNA as its genetic material. It carries an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which converts its RNA into DNA. This DNA can integrate into the host's genome.

The HIV lifecycle involves several steps: binding, fusion/entry/uncoating, reverse transcription, integration, transcription, translation, assembly, and release. Each step is essential for the virus to replicate and spread.

HIV primarily spreads through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, receiving infected blood, and mother-to-child transmission during delivery or breastfeeding.

Symptoms of HIV can include recurrent infections, unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes.

CD4 count measures the number of CD4+ T cells in a person's blood. These cells are vital for immune function. A low CD4 count indicates a weakened immune system.

A CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 indicates a person has progressed to AIDS. This stage is marked by a severely compromised immune system and vulnerability to life-threatening infections.

HIV diagnosis involves laboratory tests that detect the presence of anti-HIV antibodies or measure viral load. Common tests include ELISA, IFA, and PCR.

HIV treatment aims to lower viral load, restore immune status, relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prevent opportunistic infections.

HAART stands for Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy. It's a combination of antiretroviral drugs used to control HIV infection.

A common HAART regimen consists of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and one protease inhibitor (PI) or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (nNRTI).

HAART can lead to side effects like liver problems, diabetes, abnormal fat distribution, increased bleeding, decreased bone density, skin rashes, and pancreatitis.

NRTIs (Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors) require phosphorylation inside cells to act as false substrates for reverse transcriptase, leading to chain termination. nNRTIs (Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors) do not require phosphorylation and bind non-competitively to the enzyme.

Examples of NRTIs include zidovudine, lamivudine, stavudine, didanosine, zalcitabine, and abacavir. Examples of nNRTIs include delavirdine, nevirapine, and efavirenz.

Zidovudine can cause bone marrow depression (BMD) and anemia. Didanosine can cause pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy, and increased amylase levels. Nevirapine can cause rash, hepatitis, nausea, headache, sedation, and fatigue.

Protease inhibitor is a type of antiviral drug that inhibits the protease enzyme, preventing the maturation of new HIV particles. This blocks the virus from spreading further.

Saquinavir and Indinavir are examples of Protease Inhibitors. They can cause side effects like lipodystrophy, lipid and glucose metabolism disturbances, and hemolytic anemia.

A fusion inhibitor blocks the HIV virus from entering healthy cells. It prevents the viral envelope from fusing with the cell membrane, preventing the virus from getting inside.

Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) is a fusion inhibitor approved for advanced HIV infections. It binds to the gp41 subunit of the viral envelope glycoprotein, preventing the conformational changes needed for fusion.

Raltegravir is an integrase inhibitor approved for people with HIV resistant to other treatments. It inhibits the enzyme integrase, preventing the virus from integrating its genetic material into the host's DNA.

Maraviroc is a CCR5 blocker that prevents HIV from entering cells by blocking the CCR5 chemokine co-receptor, a major entry point for the virus.

When the CD4 count drops below 200/μl, patients are at high risk for Opportunistic Infections (OIs) such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), candidiasis, and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).

Co-trimoxazole is used to prevent PCP, fluconazole for candidiasis, and acyclovir for HSV.

A CD4 count below 50/μl means the immune system is extremely weak. Patients are at high risk for severe OIs, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection.

Gancyclovir is used for CMV, and clarithromycin or azithromycin are used for MAC.

Co-trimoxazole is essential for preventing or delaying opportunistic infections in HIV positive individuals. It is effective, inexpensive, well-tolerated, and prolongs survival.

Didanosine was discontinued because the patient developed gastrointestinal symptoms and elevated amylase levels, indicating possible pancreatitis. It was replaced with Lamivudine.

Treatment efficacy is monitored by measuring CD4 count and viral load. Adverse effects are evaluated by monitoring blood glucose, lipid levels, lactic acid, amylase, and other relevant markers.

Yes, the treatment regimen in the case study (didanosine, zidovudine, and indinavir) is an example of HAART because it combines two NRTIs and one PI.

Indinavir is a protease inhibitor. It can cause lipodystrophy, lipid and glucose metabolism disturbances, thrombocytopenia, nephrolithiasis, and hyperbilirubinemia.

Tenofovir is an example of an NtRTIs, which inhibits both HIV and HBV.

TB treatment should start at least 2 months before initiating antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) for HIV. This allows for TB control and immune system improvement before proceeding with ARVs.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV involves administering antiretroviral therapy to the mother during labor and the baby within 3 days of birth. Also, AZT for the mother starting at week 28 of pregnancy can further reduce transmission risk.

Prevention involves avoiding sexual contact with infected individuals, preventing contact with contaminated blood, using clean needles, and practicing safe hygiene.

HIV/AIDS stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It's a condition caused by a virus that weakens the immune system, making the body susceptible to infections.

HIV is a retrovirus. This means it has RNA as its genetic material and uses an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into DNA.

HIV primarily spreads through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, receiving infected blood, and mother-to-child transmission during delivery or breastfeeding.

Symptoms of HIV can include recurrent infections, unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes.

A CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 indicates a person has progressed to AIDS. This stage is marked by a severely compromised immune system and vulnerability to life-threatening infections.

HIV treatment aims to lower viral load, restore immune status, relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prevent opportunistic infections.