BASIC GENERAL INFORMATION

HIV/AIDS

 
 

Donny Bridgelal
Registered Nurse
VCT Counsellor
 OBJECTIVES
AT THE END OF SESSION PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
(1) Define HIV.

(2) Discuss how a person can be infected with HIV.

(3) State what is an HIV test.

(4) Explain how HIV affects the body.

(5) Differentiate between HIV and AIDS.

(6) Explain why Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is important.

(7) State the difference between the incubation period and window
period of HIV.

(8) State the difference between Compliance and Adherence.

(9) Give reasons why Adherence is important.

 WHAT IS HIV?

 HIV is a virus.

 It is a Reverse Transcribing virus that invades the CD4 cells (or human T
cell) eventually causing cessation of normal cell activities which leads to
cell death.

 The loss of CD4 cells decreases the immune system’s ability to fight
infections.

 It can live many years in the body without the infected person knowing
it.
 WHAT IS A VIRUS?

 A virus (Latin:- poison) is an infectious agent that can only replicate inside
cells.

 They are found in every ecosystem on Earth and is tiny enough to infect
even bacteria.

 They are single cell made up of DNA or RNA, a protein coat surrounding
this DNA or RNA and an envelope of fat.

 They can be spread by vectors, saliva droplets, faecal-oral route, sexual

contact or exposure to infected blood.
 HOW CAN A PERSON BE INFECTED WITH HIV?

A PERSON CAN BE INFECTED WITH HIV BY:

(1) Having unprotected sex without a condom

 with an infected person;

 with a person without knowing their HIV status;

 with several partners.

(2) From infected mother to unborn / new born child without treatment / or
by breastfeeding.

(3) Contaminated needles.

 WHAT IS AN HIV TEST?

 An HIV test can tell if someone is infected

with HIV.

 It is a simple test requiring a blood sample.

 Results may be available in 15 minutes to one week or delayed to 3

weeks.

 It test for HIV antibodies produced when someone is infected with HIV
which can be picked up 3 months (and after) someone is infected.
 HOW DOES HIV AFFECTS THE BODY?

 It destroys the CD4 cells which are cells responsible for initiating an immune
response.

 It uses the CD4 Cells to manufacture more virus by hundreds or even thousands.

 The lack of CD4 cells makes the immune system unable to make an immune
response.

 The body is now exposed to infections; the person is now said to have AIDS.
 WHAT IS AIDS?

 Abbreviates: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

 It is a disease.

 With a damaged immune system a person can be infected with one or more
opportunistic infection.

 A CD4 cell count <350 cells/ml of blood.

 The person may die if not treated properly.

 WHAT IS THE INCUBATION PERIOD OF HIV?

 The period between the infection of HIV and the development of

symptoms.

 It varies between two (2) to three (3) weeks.

 Signs & Symptoms may be similar to the Common Cold.

 Signs and symptoms may last two to three days and may be easily
passed of as a mild cold infection or a mild allergy reaction.
 WHAT’S THE WINDOW PERIOD OF HIV?

 The period between a person’s infection with HIV and the appearance of
detectable HIV antibodies.

 Antibodies take time to form to detectable levels.

 The time delay when a person is infected and the time they will test positive.

 This time delay ranges between 14 to 21 days but varies in different people.

 Nearly everyone will have detectable antibodies by 3 to 6 months after infection.

 WHAT IS POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP)?
 Treatment that may prevent a person from being infected after a possible
exposure.

 Exposure includes: Needle stick injuries; blood splashes in eyes or open wounds,
sexual assault, from infected mother to unborn child.

 Treatment can be started up to 72 hours after exposure.

 In pregnant mothers it can be as early as 22 weeks.

 Treatment lasts up to 1 month but stops if the contaminated source is tested

negative.

 Both source and the affected should be tested for HIV ASAP following the
incident.
How ARVs Work?
 Difference between Compliance & Adherence

Compliance: Adherence:
 Protocols accepted for maximum  Guidelines accepted for
therapeutic effect. maximum therapeutic effect.

 Used for emergency and may  It is not for emergency and do not
save lives. save lives.

 It can be short or long term  It is life long treatment.

treatment.
 It is taught by intense counseling
 It can be taught from medical or and education.
non-medical persons,
advertisements, packaging etc.  It is used for persons who are not
ill and who may never get ill.
 It is used for persons who are ill.
 ADHERENCE AND ANTIRETROVIRAL(ARV)
THERAPY
 Treatment is given in a combination of 3 drugs which is 1 NRTI and 2 NNRTI or
1 PI.

 Success in treatment is measured in periodic testing of Viral Load (Number of

viral copies per ml of blood) and CD4 count.

 Medication must be taken on time all the time without missing doses.

 Patient must be prepared to commit to treatment by education and counseling

before starting treatment.
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)

Photograph by: David Walton

Copyright  2003 Partners In Health

Photograph by: David Walton

Copyright  2003 Partners In Health

Before HAART After 1 year on HAART

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Questions??????