Question

In the context of HIV, what condition must a patient meet for a positive diagnosis?

a) CD4+ T-cell count >200 cells/mm³
b) CD4+ T-cell count <200 cells/mm³
c) CD4+ T-cell count =200 cells/mm³
d) CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/mm³

Answer 1

A positive diagnosis of AIDS in the context of HIV is given when a patient's CD4+ T-cell count drops below 200 cells/µL, which corresponds to option b. The patient described in the scenario, with 700 CD4 T-cells/µL without illness, is at Stage 1 of HIV infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of HIV, a patient is diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4+ T-cell count drops below 200 cells/µL (option b) or when they develop certain opportunistic illnesses. A CD4+ T-cell count of >200 cells/µL does not qualify for an AIDS diagnosis, and neither does a count that is exactly 200 cells/µL or <100 cells/µL. However, a count of <100 cells/µL would certainly suggest a very advanced stage of immunodeficiency.

Regarding the student's scenario where the patient has 700 CD4 T-cells/µL without apparent illness, the infection falls into Stage 1: Acute HIV infection, which is characterized by a CD4 T-cell count of more than 500 cells/µL and a large amount of virus in the blood. This patient is in the beginning phase of HIV infection and is highly contagious.