Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
■ Dr Nancie Crespi, PhD, RN
■ Stratford University
Objectives
■ Describe the virus responsible for
... [Show More] AIDS
■ Describe the mechanisms of HIV transmission
■ Explain the alterations in immune function that occur in the AIDS patient
■ Describe the CDC HIV/AIDS classification system
■ Discuss the clinical course of HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS and Older Adults
■ An increasingly significant trend in the global HIV epidemic is the growing number of people aged 50 years and older who are living with HIV
■ 37% of people in the United States with HIV are over age 50
■ The largest increase in HIV diagnoses from 2008 to 2010 was among people aged 65 and older
■ The compromised immune system of an older person makes him or her more susceptible to HIV/AIDS
■ Sexually active older men and women do not routinely use condoms
HIV/AIDS and Older Adults (Cont.)
Assessment
■ A thorough sex and drug use/assessment screening should be conducted with attention to HIV risk factors
■ Many symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, weight loss, and anorexia are common to other disease conditions and may be attributed to normal aging
■ Many U.S. guidelines recommend HIV testing among high-risk groups regardless of age but routine screening recommendations differ and some have a cutoff age of 65 years
■ Medicare covers annual screenings for HIV for those at risk or who ask for a test
AIDS Epidemic & Transmission of HIV Infection
■ What is HIV?
■ Retrovirus that selectively attacks CD4+ T lymphocytes – immune cells responsible for orchestrating & coordinating immune response to infection
Immunodeficiency Syndrome
■ Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the virus, HIV.
■ Depletes the body’s T helper (Th) cells.
■ Is susceptible to life-threatening infections and cancer.
■ Incidence
■ Worldwide
■ Is and remains a major cause of morbidity and 7
mortality.
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (cont’d)
■ RNA virus (retrovirus)
■ Stores genetic material on two copies of RNA rather than the usual dsDNA.
■ Carries an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, that creates a dsDNA version of the virus.
■ Integrase inserts new DNA into the infected cell’s genetic material.
■ May be dormant: No problems develop.
■ May activate: Many problems develop; new DNA becomes part of the cell’s genetic material and accelerates apoptosis and shedding of infectious HIV. 16 [Show Less]