Assignment task: Susan, 35 years old, was diagnosed with HIV eight years ago during a pre-operative work-up prior to some elective cosmetic surgery. Susan was admitted to the hospital after she developed a number of respiratory symptoms, including a productive cough with blood-flecked sputum.
Q1. What type of virus is HIV??
Q2. How is a diagnosis of HIV-positive usually determined?
Q3. How is HIV transmitted?
Q4. What is the usual incubation period for HIV?
Q5. The term seroconversion is often used in reference to HIV and AIDS. What does seroconversion mean?
Q6. Which cells are selectively targeted by HIV?
Q7. Which of the following manifestations typically occur with the initial HIV infection?
Q8. What typically occurs in the period between a diagnosis of HIV infection and full-blown AIDS?
Q9. What organism would be suspected as the causative agent for these symptoms?