BASIC GENERAL INFORMATION HIV

8/7/2019 BASIC GENERAL INFORMATION HIV

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BASIC GENERAL INFORMATION

HIV/AIDS

Donny BridgelalRegistered Nurse

VCT Counsellor


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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 windowperiod of HIV.

(8) State the difference between Compliance and Adherence.

(9) Give reasons why Adherence is important.


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WHAT IS HIV?

y HIV is a virus.

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

y The loss of CD4 cells decreases the immune systems ability to fightinfections.

y It can live many years in the body without the infected person knowingit.


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WHAT IS A VIRUS?

y A virus (Latin:- poison) is an infectious agent that can only replicate insidecells.

y They are found in every ecosystem on Earth and is tiny enough to infecteven bacteria.

y They are single cell made up of DNA or RNA, a protein coat surroundingthis DNA or RNA and an envelope of fat.

y They can be spread by vectors, saliva droplets, faecal-oral route, sexualcontact or exposure to infected blood.


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HOWCANA PERSON BE INFECTED WITHHIV?

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 / orby breastfeeding.

(3) Contaminated needles.


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HOWDOES HIVAFFECTS THE BODY?

It destroys the CD4 cells which are cells responsible for initiating an immuneresponse.

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

y The lack of CD4 cells makes the immune system unable to make an immuneresponse.

y The body is now exposed to infections; the person is now said to have AIDS.


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WHAT IS AIDS?

y Abbreviates: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

yIt is a disease.

y With a damaged immune system a person can be infected with one or moreopportunistic infection.

yA CD4 cell count


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WHAT IS THE INCUBATION PERIOD OFHIV?

y The period between the infection of HIV and the development ofsymptoms.

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

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

y Signs and symptoms may last two to three days and may be easily passedof as a mild cold infection or a mild allergy reaction.


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WHATS THEWINDOWPERIOD OFHIV?

y The period between a persons infection with HIV and the appearance ofdetectable HIV antibodies.

y Antibodies take time to form to detectable levels.

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

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

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


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WHAT IS POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP)?

y Treatment that may prevent a person from being infected after a possibleexposure.

y Exposure includes: Needle stick injuries; blood splashes in eyes or open wounds,

sexual assault, from infected mother to unborn child.

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

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

yTreatment lasts up to 1 month but stops if the contaminated source is testednegative.

y Both source and the affected should be tested for HIV ASAP following theincident.


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How ARVs Work?How ARVs Work?


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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPLIANCE & ADHERENCE

Compliance:

y Protocols accepted for maximumtherapeutic effect.

y Used for emergency and may savelives.

y It can be short or long termtreatment.

y It can be taught from medical ornon-medical persons,advertisements, packaging etc.

y It is used for persons who are ill.

Adherence:

y Guidelines accepted for maximumtherapeutic effect.

y It is not for emergency and do notsave lives.

y It is life long treatment.

y It is taught by intense counselingand education.

y It is used for persons who are notill and who may never get ill.


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ADHERENCEAND ANTIRETROVIRAL(ARV)

THERAPY

y Treatment is given in a combination of 3 drugs which is 1 NRTI and 2 NNRTI or 1PI.

y Success in treatment is measured in periodic testing of Viral Load (Number ofviral copies per ml of blood) and CD4 count.

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

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

before starting treatment.


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Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)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


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THANKYOU FOR YOURATTENTION

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BASIC GENERAL INFORMATION HIV

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