What Are The Signs and Symptoms of HIV Infection
and How Are People Tested for HIV Infection?
Grade Level (s): 6th & 7th grades
Subject (s): Health, Science, & Language Arts
Learner Outcomes: Each
student should be able to:
1. list signs and symptoms of HIV infection.
2. explain where to get tested for HIV infection.
3. utilize given websites to collect information.
4. use a word processor in preparing a journal.
Duration of Lesson: Two hours
Materials: Mini lecture
Technology Tools/Courseware:
Computer hooked to internet, a slide maker program
(Presentation or
Power Point), word processing software,
Inspirational Software
Teacher Notes:
- A local doctor or lab technician could speak to your class on HIV testing.
- A representative from the local health department could also do this.
2. Mini lecture:
As soon as a person is infected with HIV he or she is contagious and can infect
others. Some people show no sign of being infected for as long as 10 to 15 years.
The virus is working inside the body all this time.
Symptoms can range from mild to life threatening.
These symptoms can appear within 2 - 10 weeks:
1. fever
2. fatigue
3. muscle aches
4. headaches
5. sore throat
6. swollen lymph glands
7. body rash
Later:
1. fever, chills, night sweats
2. unexplained weight loss of more than 10 lbs.
3. persistent enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or
groin
4. persistent, recurrent oral thrush (candidiasis)
5. persistent diarrhea
6. extreme fatigue
7. opportunistic diseases now begin to show up
Opportunistic diseases are diseases a person can contract if their immune
systems are
damaged.
Examples:
1. PCP - a rare form of pneumonia (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia)
2. KS - a rare form of cancer (Kaposi's Sarcoma)
At first the appearance of these symptoms is not life threatening but after
the virus
has damaged
the immune system to a certain point even a cold can become life
threatening.
Testing
It can take from 2 weeks to 6 months for the HIV antibodies to show up.
This is
called a
window.
When testing for HIV infection the lab technician will look for the antibodies
your
immune system will produce if HIV has infected your body. This
is a very specific
blood test.
The first test run is called the ELISA. If this test is positive,
another test
will be run called the Western Blot. Their accuracy is very high.
Treatment
1. drugs
2. diet
3. exercise
4. positive life style
5. hospitalization when necessary
At this time, there is no cure for HIV infection or AIDS.
3. From the following websites, which will be supplied by the teacher,
the students will
locate information about ELIZA, Western Blot, and confidentiality:
1. www.niaid.nih.gov/daids/vir_manual/
2. www.managingdesire.org/hivtaccu.html
3. hivinsite.ucsf.edu/topics/testing/2098.307c.html
4. kerouac.pharm.uky.edu/HomeTest/elisa/elisa.html
5. www.immunetics.com/
6. www.rdabs.com/west-ana.htm
7. www.kpl.com/molbiol/ppt/regascb/tsld022.htm
8. www.biology.arizona.edu/immunology/activities/western_blot/west1.html
Modifications: If
a computer is available a slide show can be made instead of a lecture.
If there is no
computer, the chalkboard should be used.
Enrichment Activities:
1. Have students make a list of the symptoms
discussed in lesson 4.
Also have them add symptoms they may have gotten from the
internet. Have
them label each symptom with an M for mild or an LT
for life threatening.
2. Divide the class into three groups one for ELISA, one group for
Western Blot, and one group for confidentiality. Have each group
design a bulletin board using the materials they got from their
websites. The students will be graded according to the group effort.
3. Vocabulary Quiz
and Key
4. AIDS Summary
Evaluation/Assessment:
| List of Symptoms | 25% |
| Bulletin Board | 25% |
| Vocabulary Activity | 25% |
| Vocabulary Quiz | 25% |
WV Instructional
Goals and Objectives:
Health:
Relationships 6.17, 7.14
Science:
Nature of Science 7.6, 7.9
Science Themes and Subject Matter 7.27
Computer Technology 7.87, 7.92
Language Arts:
Writing 6.53, 6.54, 7.51, 7.52, 7.56, 7.57, 7.64
Language 6.88, 6.89
Computer Technology 6.154, 6.155,
6.161,7.164,
7.165, 7.167
References: Surgeon
General
Centers for Disease Control
Ryan White Webpage
Created By: Nancy
Russell
Deborah Oxley
Karen Miller
Princeton Middle School
Date Created: May 14, 1999