Question

A nurse working in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is caring for a pediatric client with HIV. The client is severely symptomatic with the additional diagnoses of lymphoma and wasting syndrome. The nurse understands that the client is in which clinical stage of HIV

A) Category N
B) Category C
C) Category A
D) Category B"

Answer 1

The severely symptomatic pediatric client with HIV, presenting with lymphoma and wasting syndrome, is in Category C, which is the stage of AIDS. This stage is marked by a CD4 T-cell count below 200 cells/μl or the development of opportunistic illnesses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client with HIV who is in the pediatric intensive care unit, and who is experiencing severe symptoms including lymphoma and wasting syndrome, is in Category C of the clinical stages of HIV. Category C represents the stage of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is diagnosed when a patient's CD4 T-cell count drops below 200 cells/μl or when they develop certain opportunistic illnesses. The presence of severe symptoms such as lymphoma and wasting syndrome indicates that the patient's immune system has become severely damaged and the disease has progressed to its most advanced form. The use of flow cytometry allows for precise determination of CD4 T-cell count, which is essential for monitoring and adjusting treatment for patients with HIV/AIDS.