Question

The nurse is caring for a patient newly diagnosed with HIV. The patient asks what would determine the actual development of AIDS. The nurse's response is based on the knowledge that which of the following is a diagnostic criterion for AIDS?

A) Presence of HIV antibodies
B) CD4+ T cell count <200/µl
C) White blood cell count <5000/µl
D) Presence of oral hairy leukoplakia

Answer 1

The diagnostic criterion for AIDS in a patient with HIV is a CD4+ T cell count of less than 200 per microliter of blood. This decline in CD4+ T cells severely impairs the immune system and is used to diagnose AIDS, making option B the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The diagnostic criterion for AIDS, as addressed in the question, is a CD4+ T cell count of less than 200 per microliter of blood. The development of AIDS in a patient with HIV is marked by a severe decline in CD4+ T cells, which impairs the immune system's ability to fight off opportunistic infections and certain cancers. Hence, option B) CD4+ T cell count <200/µl is the correct answer to the question regarding the diagnostic criterion for AIDS.

It is also important to note that while the presence of HIV antibodies, white blood cell count, and symptoms like oral hairy leukoplakia may indicate an HIV infection or health complications related to HIV, they do not, on their own, diagnose AIDS. The count of CD4+ T cells specifically is used to monitor the progression of HIV and determine when it has advanced to the stage of AIDS.