New Era University
College of Nursing
NCM 109-18 Care of Mother, Child, At Risk or with
Problems (Acute and Chronic)
Module 3: Nursing Care of the High-risk Pregnant Client (Medical Complications in Pregnancy)
3. Perinatal exposure of an infant to infected maternal secretions through birth or breastfeeding
B. Diagnosis
1. Tests used to determine the presence of antibodies to HIV include enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunofluorescence assay (IFA).
2. A single reactive ELISA test by itself cannot be used to diagnose HIV, and the test should
be repeated with the same blood sample; if the result is again reactive, follow-up tests
using Western blot or Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFA) should be done.
3. A positive Western blot or IFA is considered confirmatory for HIV.
4. A positive ELISA that fails to be confirmed by Western blot or IFA should not be
considered negative and repeat testing should be done in 3 to 6 months.
C. WHO disease staging system for HIV infection and disease (September 2005)
Stage I: HIV disease is asymptomatic and not categorized as AIDS
Stage II: includes minor mucocutaneous manifestations and recurrent upper respiratory
tract infections
Stage III: includes unexplained chronic diarrhea for longer than a month, severe bacterial
infections, and pulmonary tuberculosis
Stage IV: includes toxoplasmosis of the brain, candidiasis of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi
or lungs and Kaposi's sarcoma; these diseases are indicators of AIDS.
D. Assessment
Early
1. Fever
2. Headache
3. Tiredness
4. Enlarged lymph nodes
Late
1. Lack of energy
2. Frequent fevers and sweats
3. Persistent or frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
4. Persistent skin rashes or flaky skin
5. Pelvic inflammatory disease in women that does not respond to treatment
6. Short-term memory loss
7. Weight loss
E. Interventions
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