Level 1: CH 31-32

Vocabulary flashcards covering malaria, helminth, protozoal and HIV pharmacology and nursing concepts.

Malaria

A protozoal disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, characterized by fever, chills, sweating and flu-like symptoms.

Incubation period of malaria

Typically 10–35 days from infection to symptom onset.

Plasmodium species

The parasitic protozoa (e.g., P. falciparum, P. vivax) that cause malaria in humans.

Malaria epidemiology

Primarily affects travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa; significant drug resistance has emerged.

Drug-resistant malaria

Malaria strains no longer susceptible to standard antimalarial drugs, requiring combination therapy.

Antimalarial treatment regimen

Use of drug combinations to improve efficacy and prevent resistance.

Chloroquine prophylaxis schedule

Start 2 weeks before travel to endemic area and continue 8 weeks after leaving.

Nursing assessment for antimalarials

Ask about recent travel to endemic regions, previous malaria history, antimalarial use, and monitor temperature for fever.

Helminths

Parasitic worms that infect humans; include roundworms, tapeworms, flukes and tissue roundworms.

Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis)

The most common roundworm infection in the U.S., causing perianal itching.

Tapeworms

Flat, segmented intestinal helminths acquired from undercooked meat or fish.

Flukes

Flat, leaf-shaped helminths (trematodes) that can infect blood, liver, or lungs.

Pinworm transmission prevention

Frequent handwashing, daily showers, and daily change of sheets, towels, underwear and bedclothes.

Anthelmintic drugs

Medications that destroy parasitic worms, usually given for 1–3 days.

Metronidazole

A broad-spectrum antimicrobial with antiprotozoal and antibacterial activity.

Protozoal infections treated by metronidazole

Giardiasis (colitis), Trichomoniasis (vaginitis), and Amebiasis.

Antibacterial use of metronidazole

Effective against anaerobic bacteria, including Clostridium difficile.

Major side effects of metronidazole

Dizziness, headache, rash, peripheral neuropathy, seizures and risk of superinfection.

Superinfection

Overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms (e.g., Candida, C. difficile) during antimicrobial therapy.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

An RNA retrovirus that destroys CD4+ T cells, leading to immune deficiency.

CD4+ T cells

Helper lymphocytes targeted by HIV; their count reflects immune function.

HIV modes of transmission

Sexual fluids, direct blood contact, and mother-to-child via placenta or breast milk.

HIV window period

10–14-day interval between infection and detectable antibodies on screening tests.

HIV screening test

HIV antibody test used to detect infection after the window period.

HIV monitoring tests

HIV quantitative assay (viral load) and CD4+ T-cell count.

Stages of HIV/AIDS

Window period → Acute infection → Asymptomatic HIV → Symptomatic HIV (opportunistic infections) → AIDS.

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

Lifelong multidrug treatment that inhibits HIV replication.

Goals of ART

Achieve undetectable viral load and maintain/raise CD4+ count.

NRTIs (Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors)

ART class that blocks reverse transcriptase by mimicking nucleosides.

Zidovudine

Prototype NRTI; adverse effects include nausea, neuropathy; boxed warning for hepatotoxicity, lactic acidosis and bone-marrow suppression.

NNRTIs (Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors)

ART class that directly inhibits reverse transcriptase without nucleoside mimicry.

Efavirenz

Prototype NNRTI; may cause rash, GI upset, liver failure and neuropsychiatric effects (dizziness, vivid dreams).

Protease inhibitors

ART class that blocks viral protease, preventing maturation of HIV particles.

Atazanavir

Prototype protease inhibitor; adverse effects include dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, GI upset and hemolytic anemia.

Opportunistic infection

Illness caused by normally harmless organisms when immune function is impaired.

Common opportunistic infections in HIV

Pulmonary TB, pneumococcal pneumonia, Cryptosporidium, fungal diseases, Kaposi sarcoma, Toxoplasma, Histoplasma, CMV.

Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV

ART regimen started within 72 hours after potential exposure and continued for 4 weeks.