Grady C
Allergy and Infectious Diseases Nursing Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Nurs Clin North Am. 1988 Dec;23(4):683-96.
HIV infection is a global problem, with the largest number of cases occurring in the United States. HIV affects men, women, and children with varying frequency in different parts of the world. The spectrum of HIV infection and its consequences is broad. HIV, a retrovirus, is responsible for gradual and progressive damage to the human immune system. Over the course of years (more than 7 in many), the resultant deficiency in cell-mediated immunity leaves the host susceptible to infections, malignancies, and possible neuropsychiatric abnormalities. Current efforts to better understand this virus, its interaction with the human immune system, its clinical consequences, and its detection will continue to bring us closer to finding effective means of preventing and treating HIV infection. In addition, an understanding of the epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, and clinical consequences of HIV infection will contribute to a more knowledgeable approach to caring for HIV-infected individuals and anticipating their many needs.
艾滋病毒感染是一个全球性问题，美国的病例数最多。在世界不同地区，艾滋病毒对男性、女性和儿童的影响频率各异。艾滋病毒感染的范围及其后果是广泛的。艾滋病毒是一种逆转录病毒，会对人体免疫系统造成渐进性损害。在数年时间里（许多人超过7年），由此导致的细胞介导免疫缺陷使宿主易受感染、患恶性肿瘤，并可能出现神经精神异常。目前为更好地了解这种病毒、它与人体免疫系统的相互作用、其临床后果以及检测方法所做的努力，将继续使我们更接近找到预防和治疗艾滋病毒感染的有效方法。此外，了解艾滋病毒感染的流行病学、免疫发病机制和临床后果，将有助于更明智地护理艾滋病毒感染者并满足他们的多种需求。
