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The presence of which of the following conditions in an HIV-positive client is diagnostic of AIDS?

a. Kaposi's sarcoma
b. Pneumocystis pneumonia
c. Oral candidiasis
d. Tuberculosis

1 Answer

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Final answer:

In an HIV-positive client, the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma, Pneumocystis pneumonia, or Tuberculosis is a diagnostic criterion for AIDS, with Kaposi's sarcoma being a particularly significant indicator due to its relation to the compromised immune system in AIDS patients.

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of Kaposi's sarcoma, Pneumocystis pneumonia, Tuberculosis, and certain other conditions in an HIV-positive client is diagnostic of AIDS. An HIV-positive individual is diagnosed with AIDS when they develop certain opportunistic illnesses or when the CD4 T-cell count drops below 200 cells/μL.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer that often occurs in patients with AIDS due to its association with a compromised immune system and is a significant indicator of the progression from HIV to AIDS. This type of cancer is caused by a type of herpes virus that normally does not cause illness in healthy people but takes advantage of the weakened immune system in someone with HIV.

Pneumocystis pneumonia and Tuberculosis are opportunistic infections that are more likely to occur in individuals with a severely damaged immune system, such as those with AIDS. Oral candidiasis, while common among HIV-positive individuals, is not by itself a condition that leads to an AIDS diagnosis. Additionally, HIV wasting syndrome, prolonged system-wide symptoms, rare cancers, and a range of opportunistic infections can be present in the terminal stages of AIDS.

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