Question

A client with AIDS is brought to the clinic by their family. The family tells the nurse the client has become forgetful, with a limited attention span, decreased ability to concentrate, and delusional thinking. What condition is represented by these symptoms?

a) Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
b) Distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP)
c) HIV encephalopathy
d) Candidiasis

Answer 1

The condition represented by symptoms including forgetfulness, limited attention span, and decreased ability to concentrate in a client with AIDS is HIV encephalopathy, caused by the HIV infection affecting the brain.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client with AIDS brought to the clinic with symptoms such as forgetfulness, limited attention span, decreased ability to concentrate, and delusional thinking is likely experiencing HIV encephalopathy. HIV encephalopathy is a direct result of the infection affecting the brain, causing cognitive impairments and motor dysfunction. This diagnosis correlates with the profound CD4 T-cell lymphopenia and significant damage to the immune system, which can lead to such neuropsychiatric manifestations. It is important to differentiate these symptoms from other conditions that can affect individuals with AIDS, such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Candidiasis, which generally do not present with the described cognitive and behavioral symptoms.