Online Class: HIV — Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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11Lessons
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17Exams &
Assignments -
454Students
have taken this course -
5Hours
average time -
0.5CEUs
Course Description
Throughout this course, students also learn some basic tips and suggestions on how to prevent transmission of HIV to others and practice health-related industry precautions and learn about high-risk lifestyles such as drug use and unprotected sex may increase chances of contracting the HIV virus.
Students will learn about traditional HIV treatment options as well as alternative medical treatments, nutritional supplements and herbal or nutritional supplement remedies often combined with traditional or conservative medical care and HIV-approved treatment drugs.
Students will also gain information regarding beneficial healthy lifestyle habits and an HIV diet that may help boost the immune system and promote strength and quality lifestyles for individuals diagnosed with the virus. Steps for preventing HIV-related illnesses and opportunistic infections are also briefly covered.
Finally, students of this basic HIV course will learn what happens when HIV transforms into AIDS and what is being done today to slow down the progression of the HIV virus into full-blown AIDS. Students will wrap up the course with exposure to a variety of educational and information resources that may help to clear up myths regarding the virus, as well as what individuals can do to reverse myths, false information, and the social stigma associated with the condition.Course Motivation
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 20,000 individuals with AIDS die in the United States every year. And nearly 57,000 more Americans are infected with HIV virus each year.
The HIV virus cannot replicate on its own, but needs to invade and infect other cells in the body on order to replicate. HIV is considered a retrovirus, or one that is slow acting that can take years between infection and onset of symptoms to develop.
HIV infections enter the body through the bloodstream, mucous membranes, or by contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids. Following infection, certain cells, called CD4+T cells, rapidly reproduce and replicate.
Think of CD4+T cells as the front-line soldiers of the immune system, the body's major defense against infection. In a healthy adult, the CD4+T cell count typically ranges above 1,000. Over time, the HIV virus gradually reduces this number. At the point where an individual has fewer than 200 of these T4 cells, the body is no longer able to protect and fight against what are known as opportunistic infections. We'll cover some of these HIV-related illnesses and infections in Lesson 9.
Following exposure to the HIV virus, the immune system's ability to properly function is disrupted. The HIV virus attacks the body's immune responses, literally disabling them, giving the virus the chance to replicate, as well as to attack and kill the body's own immune response to the virus.
Gradually, the body's immune system is destroyed to the point it is unable to protect the body against other illnesses, such as a cold, pneumonia, infections, cancers, or organ damage. Eventually, a person may enter the stage known as AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
What Is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
At its most basic definition, HIV is a virus that eventually causes AIDS. Human immunodeficiency virus merely means that a virus or infection has invaded the body, disrupting the immune system's ability to function properly. Between infection and onset of symptoms, a person may enjoy a perfectly normal and active lifestyle and activity levels, being none the wiser that a virus has invaded the body.
AIDS is not an inherited condition, but must be acquired, hence its name. The term "syndrome" implies that a number of conditions or symptoms may be present during this stage of the disease, most typically caused by failure of the immune system to function properly.
Not all people diagnosed with HIV infections have AIDS. HIV may or may not progress in stages, ending up with the AIDS diagnosis. Individuals who live with HIV infections, who don't typically experience symptoms, are called asymptomatic, meaning without symptoms. Following early symptoms of the condition, most individuals are diagnosed with early symptomatic HIV. As the condition worsens and damages the immune system, a person may be diagnosed with opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia, tumors, chronic coughs, and lung damage and organ failure.
Each individual may react to the HIV virus in a different way. For example, basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson was diagnosed with AIDS nearly 20 years ago. He continues to lead a fairly active and normal healthy lifestyle, even though at the time of his diagnosis, many people feared that he'd been delivered a death sentence. Because he was diagnosed as such an early stage, and continues with his drug treatments, Magic's prognosis is fairly good. Actually, many individuals today who experience both effective drug treatment coupled with early detection have a roughly 90 percent chance of holding the HIV virus in check without ever developing AIDS-related conditions or infections.
HIV and AIDS testing methodologies, education and awareness programs, as well as new drug treatments given at this stage of the disease have helped thousands of individuals lead a normal lifestyle.
A person living with HIV needs to take certain precautions, which also will be discussed in this course; but just because a person is diagnosed as HIV positive, doesn't mean the person will develop AIDS.
The next stage of the HIV virus is called seroconversion. During this time, the body's immune system produces antibodies against the HIV virus in an effort to protect itself. Common symptoms at this point may include swollen lymph nodes and flu-like symptoms. During this period, the virus is highly infectious.
Following the period of seroconversion, a person may experience what is known as an asymptomatic period. No symptoms are felt or experienced during this period. For some people, this period may last six months, while for others 10 years or more may pass symptom-free. It's impossible to determine exactly how long it takes one person or another to experience symptoms. Even if the person is not showing any symptoms, and may feel perfectly healthy and strong, the virus continues to replicate and reproduce inside the body. The replication of the virus will cause a general, gradual, and inevitable weakening and decline of the body's immune system.
Conclusion
The effects HIV may have on the body include both physical and mental changes, some of which are slower to appear than others. Again, every individual may react to the HIV virus differently, and just because one person experiences certain symptoms doesn't mean that another will experience the same.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: HIV Basics
Lesson 1 Video
Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam
Lesson 2: How Does HIV Affect the Body?
Lesson 2 Video
Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam
Lesson 3: Symptoms Associated With HIV
Lesson 3 Video
Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam
Lesson 4: How an HIV Diagnosis Is Made
Lesson 4 Video
Lesson discussions: HIV Test
Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam
Lesson 5: Preventing HIV Infection and Transmission to Others
Lesson 5 Video
Lesson discussions: Prevention
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam
Lesson 6: Traditional HIV Treatment Options
Lesson 6 Video
Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam
Lesson 7: Alternative Medical Treatments for HIV
Lesson 7 Video
Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam
Lesson 8: Living With HIV
Lesson 8 Video
Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: Preventing HIV-Related Illnesses
Lesson 9 Video
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: What Is My Prognosis?
Lesson 10 Video
Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11: Coping With HIV
Lesson 11 Video
Lesson discussions: HIV Support; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam
Assessment: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Define what HIV is, describe how HIV affects the body, and recognize the symptoms associated with HIV.
- Summarize HIV Diagnosis Is Made.
- Describe methods for preventing HIV infection and transmission to others.
- Define traditional HIV treatment options and summarize alternative medical treatments for HIV.
- Describe living with HIV and coping with HIV.
- Describe methods of preventing HIV-related illnesses.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "After completing this course I have learned that there are many stages to HIV and if left untreated the disease becomes worse and you eventually develop AIDS. I am very happy to have taken this course because after learning this I realized that HIV is managable and very misunderstood. Great learning experience, the course is very informative." -- Maria B.
- "She was very prompt in grading the assignments and exams." -- Lyn L.
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