HIV Human immunodeficiency Enveloped, icosahedral, single stranded linear, RNA It belongs to the Retrovirus family that is classified into 2 groups: # Oncovirus group: containing Human T- cell Lymphocytic viruses, causing leukaemia and lymphoma # Lentivirus group: containing human immunodeficiency viruses 1&2

Routes of transmission of Sexual From mother to Blood Sharing of needles among drug Bloody No transmission by insects, saliva, tears, sweat, or faeces,

Clinical Stage I: Acute infection: fever, night sweats, malaise, Stage II: No symptoms, for 1-10 Stage III: Lymphadenopathy on all Stage IV: AIDS symptoms & signs: Fever, diarrhoea, meningitis, candidiasis TB, lymphoma, pneumonia, septicaemia

Laboratory Antibodies positive after 3 months (window ELISA to detect HIV Western blot to confirm ELISA PCR assays for both HIV RNA and Rapid oral HIV test, confirmed by HIV culture

Follow-up By counting CD4 lymphocytes, using CD4 Counting Machine # Declining numbers of CD4 lymphocytes is a poor ELISA to detect HIV p24 antigen. * Its presence is a poor prognosis