Final answer:
Information important to teach an HIV positive client includes that HIV is a retrovirus targeting CD4 T cells and current treatments like antiretroviral therapy can manage the disease but not cure it. HIV uses T cells to replicate, not red blood cells, and eradication is difficult due to the virus integrating into the host genome.
Step-by-step explanation:
When educating a client who is HIV positive, it's important to convey accurate information about the HIV virus infection. Firstly, HIV is a retrovirus, which means it converts its RNA into DNA within a host cell and integrates it into the host's genome, making it very difficult to completely eradicate from the body. This integration allows the HIV virus to remain hidden in the host cells for an extended period.
Secondly, the HIV virus primarily targets CD4-positive T cells within the human immune system. These are crucial cells that help mount an immune response to infections. HIV uses the T cell's machinery to replicate, not red blood cells, as mentioned in one of the incorrect options provided in the question. Successful replication of the HIV virus leads to the destruction of these T cells, compromising the immune system over time.
Finally, while current medical regimens cannot completely eradicate the virus from the host body, antiretroviral therapy (ART) can significantly reduce the viral load to undetectable levels and improve the patient's longevity and quality of life. However, the virus may still persist in reservoirs within the body. Any cessation of treatment can lead to a resurgence of the virus. Ongoing research aims to find strategies to target these hidden reservoirs.
Therefore, the key points to teach are that HIV is a retrovirus that compromises the immune system by targeting CD4 T cells, making eradication challenging, and while not curable, ART can manage the disease effectively.