HIV/AIDS in short
World wide spread – more in Africa, south-east Asia,
Spread
Heterosexual contact main now, early it was homosexual.
Mother to child
Contaminated blood product
Contaminated needles.
Immune system
Cell receptor for HIV is CD4 molecule.
Lot of cells in immune system contain CD4 molecule – mainly T-lymphocytes.
Loss of CD4 helper lymphocytes.
Clinical features
Several stages
Acute infection
Asymptomatic infection
Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy
Symptomatic infection
Acute primary infection
Self limiting non-specific infection occur.
After 4-8 weeks of exposure.
Fever, arthralgia, myalgia, lethargy, lymphadenopathy.
Last 3 weeks.
CD4 may be depleted.
Asymptomatic infection
Majority asymptomatic.
Patient is infectious.
Can be 10 year from infection to develop AIDS.
Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy
Asymptomatic but lymphadenopathy.
Symmetrical, firm, non-tender.
Symptomatic infection
Reduction of CD4 cell.
Weight loss, night sweats, diarrhoea.
Skin & mucous membranes – different manifestation.
Neurological msnifestations.
Gastrointestinal manifestation – diarrhoea.
Symptomatic infection
Opportunistic infection and tumours.
Protozoa – Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis.
Fungi – cryptococcus, candida,
Viruses – cytomegalovirus, Herpes.
Bacterial – TB,
Tumours – Kaposi’s sarcoma, Lymphoma.
Diagnosis
Antibody - IgG to envelop componenets.
Antigen - p24Ag