Case Study #13 - HIV
Darrin Olmstead is a 42-year-old man admitted to the hospital with complaints of shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, and oral thrush. The physician reviews the lab and diagnostic tests with Mr. Olmstead and informs him that he has pneumonia and has tested positive for HIV. Mr. Olmstead believes that he contracted HIV while involved in an affair with another woman three years ago. He is afraid to tell his wife, knowing she will be angry and that she may leave him.
You are the nurse assigned to care for Mr. Olmstead and you read in his medical record that he learned two days ago that he is HIV positive. There is a note in the record that indicates that hehas not yet informed his wife of the diagnosis. In confiding with you, he states, “How can I tell my wife about this? It’s bad enough that I had an affair, but to have to tell her in this way…I just don’t think I can. I will just say I have pneumonia and take the medication my doctor prescribed for me. If she begins to show signs of not feeling well then, I will tell her. I just can’t tell anyone. What will people think of me if they know I have AIDS?”
Discussion Questions
1. HIV would be progressing in 3 stages at the cellular level:
in the stage of acute infection, the virus would be multiplying in a rapid manner. As the acute form will go on to the chronic form, the virus would be multiplying in a less rapid manner. Though, with the progression of the levels of HIV, there would be an advancement of infection. This also leads to a reduction of CD4 levels in the cell.
2. HIV would only be spreading through some of the body fluids. These would only be transmitting from a person to another, who is having HIV. The fluids that would be transmitting are rectal fluids, vag-inal fluids, or even through the bre-ast milk. Darrin could prevent transmission to his wife there should be protection taking, and the se-xual behaviors that are less risky should be taken up.
3. AIDS is identified as the last stage of HIV. AIDS is identified as a condition, and will only be developing as HOV would be acquiring the chronic form and would be causing severe damage to the immune system of a person.
4. The tests that are used for the confirmation of HIV are:
if ELISA would be testing positive, there would be further confirmation with the use of western blot. This would be confirming the diagnosis.
Case Study #13 - HIV Darrin Olmstead is a 42-year-old man admitted to the hospital with...
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