ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME

Course overview

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED SEXUALLY, VIA BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, SHARING INTRAVENOUS NEEDLES, AND FROM THE MOTHER TO A CHILD DURING THE BIRTH PROCESS AND BREASTFEEDING. HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS HAS DISTINCT PHASES: VIRAL TRANSMISSION, ACUTE SEROCONVERSION, ACUTE RETROVIRAL SYNDROME, RECOVERY AND SEROCONVERSION, ASYMPTOMATIC CHRONIC INFECTION AND SYMPTOMATIC HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION OR ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME. THIS ACTIVITY FOCUSES ON ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME AND THE SEQUELAE OF CHRONIC HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION, AND REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR THESE CONDITIONS. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING THIS COMPLEX, LIFELONG DISORDER.