- 🔬Pathophysiology
- Retrovirus infects CD4+ T cells → progressive immunodeficiency; AIDS when CD4 <200 or an AIDS-defining illness.
- 🩺Signs & Symptoms
- Acute retroviral (flu-like) syndrome → latency → opportunistic infections as CD4 falls.
- 🎯Gold Standard Diagnosis
- 4th-generation HIV Ag/Ab combo immunoassay → confirmatory testing; viral load & CD4 for staging.
- 💊First-line Treatment
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all patients regardless of CD4; OI prophylaxis by CD4 count.
High-Yield PearlTreat all HIV patients with ART regardless of CD4; start PCP prophylaxis (TMP-SMX) when CD4 <200.