AIDS and Pregnancy
1. Definition/Description: The name of the disorder is AIDS and pregnancy. The virus that is known as AIDS can be transmitted from an infected mother to her newborn child. 20-30% of babies that come from infected mothers get HIV (4).
2. Pathophysiology: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent for AIDS. The most common type is known as HIV-1 and is the infectious agent that has led to the worldwide AIDS epidemic. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease (5). The CD4+ T-lymphocytes have surface receptors to which HIV can attach to promote entry into the cell. Mothers who are HIV infected can pass the virus on to their fetuses in utero or to infants via breast milk. The longer the delivery process the more likely the baby will be infected. "When the CD4 lymphocyte count drops below 200/microliter, then the stage of clinical AIDS has been reached" (1).
3. Presenting complaints/common history findings: Both sexually transmitted diseases and......
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