ABC - Abacavir; also Abstinence, Be Faithful, Use Condoms (a popular HIV/AIDS prevention message).
ACP - AIDS Control Program.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) – The most severe manifestation of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization, and many national governments list numerous opportunistic infections and cancers that, in the presence of HIV infection, result in an AIDS diagnosis. AIDS is also defined on the basis of the degree of immunodeficiency in an HIV-infected individual. AIDS can also affect the central nervous system and can result in neurological problems, infections or cancers.
Acute HIV Infection - The period following infection when there is rapid production of virus. An estimated 80 to 90% of individuals with primary HIV infection develop an acute syndrome (disorder) characterized by flu-like symptoms of fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, headache, aching muscles and sometimes, skin rash. Following infection, the immune system produces antibody and cellular response to the virus (seroconversion) and a broad HIV-1 specific immune response occurs, usually within an average of 3 weeks after HIV infection. High levels of virus (HIV RNA) can be found in the blood at this time.
Adherence - The extent to which a patient continues the agreed-upon treatment as prescribed.
Adverse Reaction - (Adverse event) An unwanted effect caused by the administration of drugs or vaccines. Onset may be sudden or develop over time.
AIDS-Related Cancers - Several cancers are more common or more aggressive in persons living with HIV. These malignancies include certain types of immune system cancers known as lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcoma and anogenital cancers that primarily affect the anus and the cervix.
ARC (AIDS-Related Complex) - (Early symptomatic HIV infection) A group of common complications found in early stages of HIV infection. They include progressive generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), recurrent fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, herpes, hairy leukoplakia, fungus infection of the mouth and throat and the presence of HIV antibodies. Also includes symptoms that appear to be related to infection by HIV such as an unexplained chronic deficiency of white blood cells (leukopenia) or a poorly functioning lymphatic system with swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) lasting for > 3 months without the opportunistic infections required for a diagnosis of AIDS.
AIDS Wasting Syndrome - An AIDS-defining condition that includes at least 10% weight loss in the presence of diarrhea, chronic weakness and documented fever for at least 30 days that is not the result of another infection or disease. In developing countries, it is often called "slim disease."
ANC - Antenatal Clinic
Anemia - A lower than normal number of red blood cells.
Antenatal - Occurring before birth.
Antibiotic - A natural or manufactured substance that prevents the growth of bacteria or fungi. Some antibiotics are used to treat infectious diseases.
Antibody - Substances in the blood or other body fluids that destroy bacteria, viruses, or other harmful agents (antigens). They are members of a class of proteins known as immunoglobulins, which are produced by a special white blood cell called B-lymphocytes.
Antifungal - A substance that kills or slows the growth of a fungus.
Antigen - Any substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies (proteins that fight antigens). Antigens are often foreign substances such as bacteria or viruses that invade the body.
Anti-retroviral (ARV) - A substance that kills or suppresses a retrovirus, such as HIV.
Anti-retroviral Drugs - Substances used to kill or stop the multiplication of retroviruses such as HIV.
Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) – This is the treatment or therapy required to treat the
HIV infection.
APV - Amprenavir.
Asymptomatic - Without symptoms or not sick. Usually used in HIV/AIDS literature to describe a person who has a positive reaction to one of several tests for HIV antibodies, but who shows no clinical symptoms of the disease and who is not sick. Even though a person is asymptomatic he or she may still infect another person with HIV.
Bactrim - Brand name of Trimethoprim/Sulphamethoxazole.
BID - Twice a day.
Bisexual - Having sexual relations with both females and males.
Body Fluids - Any fluid in the human body, such as blood, urine, saliva (spit), sputum, tears, semen, mother's milk or vaginal secretions. Only blood, semen, mother's milk and vaginal secretions have been linked directly to the transmission of HIV.
Breast Milk Substitute - Any food being marketed or otherwise presented as partial or total replacement for breast milk, whether or not suitable for that purpose.
Breast-feeding - Feeding a child breast milk (direct from the breast or expressed). Breast-feeding practices may be further described according to timing and frequency.
Candida - Yeast-like fungi commonly found in the normal flora of the mouth, skin, intestinal tract and vagina, which can become infectious in individuals with an abnormal immune system.
Candidiasis - An infection with a yeast-like fungus of the Candida family, generally Candida albicans. Candidiasis of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi or lungs is an indicator disease for AIDS. Oral or recurrent vaginal candida infection is an early sign of immune system abnormalities.
CD4 (T4) or CD4+Cells - A type of lymphocyte involved in protecting against viral, fungal and protozoal infections. They are also known as T helper cells. They are HIV's preferred targets for infection. Destruction of CD4+ lymphocytes is the major cause of the immunodeficiency observed in AIDS and decreasing CD4+ lymphocyte levels appear to be the best indicator for developing opportunistic infections.
Cesarean Section - A delivery procedure for the baby that involves making a cut through the abdominal wall to remove the baby from the uterus.
Chancroid - A highly contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by the Haemophilus ducreyi bacterium with symptoms appearing 3 to 5 days after exposure.
Chemotherapy - In general, it is the use of medicines to treat any disease. It is more commonly used to describe medicines to treat cancer.
Chlamydia - A sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis that infects the genital tract. The infection is frequently asymptomatic (i.e. shows no symptoms), but if left untreated, it can cause sterility in women.
Clinical Trial - A scientifically designed study of the effects of a drug, vaccine, biologic or behavior in humans. The goal is to define the safety, the benefit and side effects of the drug. Most countries require strict testing of all new drugs and vaccines prior to their approval for use.
Combination Therapy - Two or more drugs or treatments used together to obtain the best results against HIV infection and/or AIDS. Combination drug therapy (treatment) has proven more effective than monotherapy (single-drug therapy) in controlling the growth of the virus. An example of combination therapy would be the use of two drugs such as zidovudine and lamivudine together.
Commercial Sex Worker (CSW) - A woman or man who offers sexual intercourse for a fee. The terms prostitute or prostitution are used more frequently outside the AIDS area.
Community Planning - Community planning groups are responsible for developing HIV prevention, treatment and care plans that are used in their communities. The goal of HIV community planning is to improve the effectiveness of HIV programs and to be certain that the needs of the community are being met.
Community-Based Organization (CBO) - A service organization that provides social, support, education and care services at the local level.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) - A frequently ordered blood test that provides the white count, red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobulin in a microliter of whole blood.
Confirmatory Test - Because the diagnosis of HIV infection is so important, a second test, to show that the first test was correct, is recommended. A confirmatory test for an ELISA test is usually the Western blot. A confirmatory test could also be another HIV test such as a rapid test or a DNA or RNA PCR test.
Confirmed Positive - For HIV, a blood sample that is positive on an initial ELISA test, repeatedly positive on a second ELISA run on the same specimen, or confirmed positive on Western blot or other supplemental test indicates that the client is infected.
Cotrimoxazole - Also known as Trimethoprim/Sulphamethoxazole, Bactrim or Septrin. A combination antibiotic drug effective at preventing and treating Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP); also serves as a prophylaxis against toxoplasmosis. The drug is also active against bacterial infections.
Cross-Resistance - The process in which an infectious agent that acquires resistance to one drug through direct exposure also turns out to have resistance to one or more other drugs to which it has not been exposed.
Cryptococcal Meningitis - A life-threatening infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, stiff neck, and, if untreated, coma and death.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - A common herpes virus that is a common cause of opportunistic diseases in persons with AIDS and other persons with immune suppression. CMV has infected most adults; however the virus does not cause disease in healthy people. Because the virus remains in the body for life, it can cause disease if the immune system becomes severely damaged by drugs. While CMV can infect most organs of the body, persons with AIDS are most susceptible to CMV retinitis (disease of the eye) and colitis (disease of the colon).
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Retinitis - An eye disease caused by the CMV virus, common among persons who are living with HIV. Without treatment, persons with CMV retinitis can lose their vision. CMV infection can affect both eyes and is the most common cause of blindness among persons with AIDS.
D4T - Stavudine, an anti-retroviral drug belonging to the reverse transcriptase class that inhibits HIV growth.
DDC - Zalcitabine, a reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
DDI - Didanosine, an antiretroviral drug belonging to the reverse transcriptase class that inhibits HIV growth.
DLV - Delavirdine, a drug in the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor class.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) - The twisted double-stranded molecular chain found in genes within the nucleus of each cell. DNA carries the genetic information that enables cells to reproduce and transmit hereditary characteristics.
Efficacy - The maximum ability of a drug or treatment to produce a result regardless of the drug dose.
EFV – Efavirenz
ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) - A type of enzyme immunoassay to determine the presence of antibodies to HIV in the blood or oral fluids. Repeatedly (i.e. two or more) reactive ELISA test results should be confirmed with a second test such as the Western blot test, a rapid HIV test, or a DNA or RNA PCR. Availability of the confirmatory test often determines which one is performed.
Epidemiology - The branch of medical science that deals with the study and distribution and control of a disease in a population.
False Negative - A test result that is not correct. This may be a result of performing the test incorrectly or using a test that is not accurate. A false negative test in HIV would be a test that is negative in a person who is actually infected.
False Positive - A test result that is not correct. This may be a result of performing the test incorrectly or using a test that is not accurate. A false positive test in HIV would be a test that is positive in a person who is not infected. For this reason, a second confirmatory test is recommended when a person tests HIV positive.
Fat Redistribution - Also called body fat redistribution syndrome (BFR). Changes in body fat distribution, sometimes referred to as "lipodystrophy syndrome" or "fat redistribution syndrome," have been observed in patients taking protease inhibitors. Changes may include abdominal fat accumulation ("protease paunch"), fat accumulation over the back of the neck ("buffalo hump"), wasting of legs and arms with prominence of the veins, facial thinning and breast enlargement.
FHI - Family Health International
Fungus - One of a group of primitive, non-vascular organisms including mushrooms, yeasts, rusts and molds.
GUIs - Genital and Urinary Tract Infection (such as gonorrhea and chancroid) – diseases and infections that are spread from one person to another during sexual intercourse.
HCW - Healthcare worker.
Helper T Cells - Lymphocytes bearing the CD4 marker that are responsible for many immune system functions, including turning antibody production on and off.
Hepatitis - An inflammation of the liver. May be caused by bacterial or viral infection, parasitic infestation, alcohol, drugs, toxins or transfusion of incompatible blood. Although many cases of hepatitis are not a serious threat to health, the disease can become chronic and can sometimes lead to liver failure and death. There are four major types of viral Hepatitis: A, B, C and D.
Hepatitis A - Caused by infection with the Hepatitis A virus, which is spread by fecal-oral contact.
Hepatitis B - Caused by infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is commonly passed on to a partner during sexual intercourse, especially during anal sex, as well as through sharing of drug needles.
Hepatitis C - Approximately 40% of patients infected with HIV are also infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), mainly because both viruses share the same routes of transmission. HCV is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. Clinical studies have demonstrated that HIV infection causes a more rapid progression of chronic hepatitis C to liver failure in HIV-infected persons.
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) - A virus that causes cold sores or fever blisters on the mouth or around the eyes and can be transmitted to the genital region. Stress, trauma, other infections or suppression of the immune system can reactivate the latent virus.
Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) - A virus causing painful sores of the anus or genitals that may lie dormant in nerve tissue. It can be reactivated to produce symptoms. HSV-2 may be transmitted to a newborn during birth from an infected mother, causing retardation and/or other serious complications. HSV-2 is a precursor of cervical cancer.
Herpes Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) - The varicella virus causes chicken pox in children and may reappear in adults as herpes zoster. Also called shingles, herpes zoster consists of very painful blisters on the skin that follow nerve pathways.
Herpes Viruses - A group of viruses that includes herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1), Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), human herpes type 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-8, a herpes virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma.
Herpes Zoster - A painful infection with the varicella virus that normally causes chicken pox. The virus may be dormant for many years in the cells of the nervous system. When reactivated it appears on the skin in various locations as painful sores. Also called shingles.
High-Risk Behavior - A reported sexual, injection drug use or other non-work related HIV exposure that might put a patient at high-risk for acquiring HIV infection.
Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) - The name given to treatment regimens recommended by HIV experts to aggressively decrease viral multiplication and progress of HIV disease. The usual HAART treatment combines three or more different drugs, such as two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or other combinations. These treatment regimens have been shown to reduce the amount of virus, so that it becomes undetectable in a patient's blood.
Histoplasmosis - A fungal infection, commonly of the lungs, caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. This fungus is commonly found in bird and bat droppings. It is spread by breathing in the spores of the fungus. Persons with severely damaged immune systems, such as those with AIDS, are susceptible to a very serious disease known as progressive disseminated histoplasmosis.
HIV Prevention Counseling - Provision of information on how HIV is transmitted, how an individual becomes infected and how to prevent infection. Encompasses all modes of transmission including sexual (homosexual and bisexual), intravenous drug use, mother-to-child transmission, breast-feeding, accidental exposure from an infected patient and HIV-infected blood transfusion.
HTLV-1; HTLV-2 - HTLV-I and HTLV-II, like all retroviruses, are single-stranded RNA that divide through DNA made possible by the presence of an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, which converts a single-stranded viral RNA into a double-stranded DNA. HTLV-I attacks T lymphocytes; it appears to be the causative agent of certain T-cell leukemias, T-cell lymphomas and HTLV-I-associated neurologic disease.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) - The retrovirus isolated and recognized as the etiologic (i.e., causing or contributing to the cause of a disease) agent of AIDS. HIV-1 is classified as a lentivirus in a subgroup of retroviruses. Also, the genetic material of a retrovirus such as HIV is the RNA itself. HIV inserts its own RNA into the host cell's DNA, preventing the host cell from carrying out its natural functions and turning it into an HIV factory.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) - A virus closely related to HIV-1 that has also been found to cause AIDS. It was first isolated in West Africa. Although HIV-1 and HIV-2 are similar in how they are transmitted and result in similar opportunistic infections, they have differed in their geographic patterns of infection. HIV-1 remains the most common cause of AIDS and represents the major type distributed worldwide.
HIV positive - A ‘positive’ HIV antibody test indicating that a person is infected with
HIV.
HIV status - The presence or absence of HIV positive antibody test. The HIV status
refers to whether the person is or is not infected with HIV.
HIV test - The HIV antibody test that determines if an individual is infected with HIV.
IDU - Intravenous (injection) Drug User.
IDV - Indinavir.
Immune deficiency - A breakdown or inability of certain parts of the immune system to function, thus making a person susceptible to certain diseases that they would not ordinarily develop.
Immune Response - The activity of the immune system against foreign substances.
Immune System - The body's complicated natural defense against disruption caused by invading foreign agents (e.g., bacteria, viruses). Acquired, or learned, immune response arises when specialized cells (dendritic cells and macrophages) process pieces of infectious agents. The ultimate result is the creation of anti-body-producing B cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Immunity - A natural or acquired resistance to a specific disease. Immunity may be partial or complete, long lasting or temporary.
Immunization - Protection against an infectious disease by vaccination, usually with a weakened (attenuated) or killed form of the disease-causing microorganism. While people are usually immunized against an infectious disease by getting vaccinated, having a disease such as measles, mumps or rubella one time, usually prevents or "immunizes" a person from getting this disease again.
Immunocompetent - Capable of developing an immune response; possessing a normal immune system.
Immunocompromised - refers to an immune system in which the ability to resist or fight off infections and tumors is subnormal.
Immunodeficiency - Breakdown of the immune system in which certain parts of the immune system no longer function. This condition makes a person more susceptible to certain diseases.
Indeterminate Test Result - A laboratory test result that does not give a clear answer. Either additional laboratory studies should be performed or the test should be repeated.
Inoculation - The introduction of a substance (inoculum; e.g., a vaccine, serum or virus) into the body to produce or to increase immunity to the disease or condition associated with the substance.
Integrase - A little-understood enzyme that plays a vital role in the HIV infection process. Integrase inserts HIV's genes into a cell's normal DNA.
Integrase Inhibitors - A class of experimental anti-HIV drugs that prevents the HIV integrase enzyme from inserting viral DNA into a host cell's normal DNA.
Intrapartum - Time during labor and delivery.
Isoniazid (INH) - An orally administered drug used to eliminate tuberculosis infection in people without active disease. INH is also administered in combination with other drugs to treat active tuberculosis.
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) - An AIDS-defining illness consisting of individual cancerous sores caused by an overgrowth of blood vessels. KS typically appears as pink or purple painless spots or nodules on the surface of the skin or mouth. KS also can occur internally, especially in the intestines, lymph nodes and lungs and in this case is life threatening. A species of herpes virus--also referred to as Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus (KSHV) or HHV-8--similar to the Epstein-Barr virus is the probable cause.
Karnofsky Score - A score from 0 to 100 assigned by a physician based on observations of a patient's ability to perform common tasks. Thus, 100 signifies normal physical abilities with no evidence of disease. Decreasing numbers indicate a reduced ability to perform activities of daily living.
Lamivudine - (3TC) Nucleoside analogue with anti-HIV and anti-hepatitis B activity.
Life Threatening Disease - Includes, but is not limited to:
Lipodystrophy - A disturbance in the way the body produces, uses and distributes fat. Lipodystrophy is also referred to as buffalo hump, protease paunch or Crixivan potbelly. In HIV disease, lipodystrophy has come to refer to a group of symptoms that seem to be related to the use of protease inhibitor and NRTI drugs.
Liver Function Test (LFT) - A test that measures the blood serum levels of any of the several enzymes (e.g., SGOT and SGPT) produced by the liver. An elevated liver function test is a sign of possible liver damage.
Long-Term Non-progressors - Individuals who have been living with HIV for at least 7 to 12 years (different authors use different time spans) and have stable CD4+ T-cell counts of 600 or more cells per cubic millimeter of blood, no HIV-related diseases, and no previous anti-retroviral therapy. Data suggest that this phenomenon is associated with the maintenance of the integrity of the lymphoid tissues and with less virus trapping in the lymph nodes than is seen in other individuals living with HIV.
Lymph - A transparent, slightly yellow fluid that carries lymphocytes. Lymph is derived from tissue fluids collected from all parts of the body and is returned to the blood via lymphatic vessels.
Lymph Nodes - Small, bean-sized organs of the immune system, distributed widely throughout the body. Lymph fluid is filtered through the lymph nodes in which all types of lymphocytes take up temporary residence. Lymph nodes contain T cells, B cells, as well as other cells of the immune system.
Lymphocyte - A white blood cell. Present in the blood, lymph and lymphoid tissue.
Macrophage - A large immune cell that destroys invading infectious agents. Macrophage can hide large quantities of HIV without being killed, acting as reservoirs of the virus.
Malaise - A generalized, nonspecific feeling of discomfort or tiredness.
Malignant - Refers to cells or tumors growing in an uncontrolled fashion. Such growths may spread to and disrupt nearby normal tissue or reach distant sites via the bloodstream. By definition, cancers are always malignant and the term "malignancy" implies cancer.
MCH - Maternal Child Health.
Meningitis - An inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain or spinal cord), which may be caused by a bacterium, fungus or virus.
Metabolism - The chemical changes in living cells by which energy is provided for vital processes and activities and new material is assimilated.
Microbicide - An agent (e.g., a chemical or antibiotic) that destroys microbes. Research is being carried out to evaluate the use of rectal and vaginal microbicides to inhibit the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Mitochondria - A rod-shaped or oval portion on the inside of a cell that produces most of the cell's energy.
Mitochondrial Toxicity - Also referred to as mitochondrial dysfunction. A possible side effect of certain anti-HIV drugs, primarily NRTIs, that results in mitochondrial damage. This damage can cause symptoms in the heart, nerves, muscles, pancreas, kidney and liver and it can also cause changes in lab tests. Some of the common conditions related to mitochondrial toxicity are muscle and nerve disease and inflammation of the pancreas.
Monotherapy - Use of a single drug or therapy to treat a disease or condition.
MTCT - Mother-to-child transmission (of HIV).
Multiple Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) - A strain of TB that does not respond to two or more standard anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB usually occurs when treatment is interrupted, thus allowing organisms in which mutations fro drug resistance have occurred to proliferate.
Mutation - In biology, a sudden change in gene or unit of hereditary material that results in a new inheritable characteristic. As related to HIV: During the course of HIV disease, mutated HIV strains may emerge in an infected individual. These mutated strains may differ widely in their ability to infect and kill different cell types, as well as, in their rate of replication. Of course, HIV does not mutate into another type of virus.
Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) - A common opportunistic infection caused by two very similar mycobacterial organisms, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare (MAI), found in soil and dust particles. It is a bacterial infection that can be localized (limited to a specific organ or area of the body) or disseminated throughout the body. It is a life-threatening disease, although new treatments offer promise for both prevention and treatment. MAC disease is extremely rare in persons who are not infected with HIV. It generally occurs when the CD4+ T-cell count falls below 50.
NRTIs - Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. They act by incorporating themselves into the DNA of the virus thereby stopping the building process. The resulting DNA is incomplete.
NNRTIs - Non - Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. These stop HIV production by binding directly onto reverse transcriptase preventing the conversion of RNA to DNA.
Occupational HIV Exposure - Exposure to HIV as a result of work (job). Exposure may include accidental exposure to HIV-infected blood following a needle-stick injury or cut from a surgical instrument.
Opportunistic Infection - An illness caused by various organisms, some of which usually do not cause disease in persons with normal immune systems. Persons living with advanced HIV infection suffer opportunistic infections of the lungs, brain, eyes and the other organs.
Opportunistic infections common in persons diagnosed with AIDS, include Pneumocystis carinii ( P. jyroveci) pneumonia; Kaposi's sarcoma; Cryptosporidiosis; Histoplasmosis; other parasitic, viral and fungal infections and some types of cancer.
Oral Hairy Leukoplakia (OHL) - A whitish lesion that appears on the side of the tongue and inside the cheeks. The lesion appears raised, with a ribbed or hairy surface. OHL occurs mainly in persons with declining immunity and may be caused by Epstein-Barr virus infection. OHL was not observed before the HIV epidemic.
Oropharyngeal - Relating to the division of the pharynx between the soft palate and the epiglottis. The pharynx is a tube that connects the mouth and nasal passages with the esophagus, the connection to the stomach. The epiglottis is a thin, valve-like structure that covers the glottis, the opening of the upper part of the larynx (the part of the throat containing the vocal cords), during swallowing.
P24 - A bullet-shaped part of a protein that surrounds the viral RNA within the envelope of HIV. The p24 antigen test looks for the presence of this protein in a patient's blood. A positive result for the p24 antigen suggests active HIV multiplication.
Palliative Care - Palliative care is an approach to life-threatening chronic illnesses, especially at the end of life. Palliative care combines active and compassionate therapies to comfort and support patients who are living with life-ending illnesses and their families. Palliative care strives to meet physical needs through relieving pain and maintaining quality of life while emphasizing the patient's and family's rights to participate in informed discussions and to make choices. This patient-and family-centered approach uses the skills of interdisciplinary team members to provide a comprehensive continuum of care, including spiritual and emotional needs.
Pancreatitis - Inflammation of the pancreas that can produce severe pain and debilitating illness. Its onset can be predicted by rises in blood levels of the pancreatic enzyme amylase.
Parenteral - A route other than in or through the digestive system. For example, parenteral can pertain to blood being drawn from a vein in the arm or introduced into that vein via a transfusion (intravenous) or to injection of medications or vaccines through the skin (subcutaneous) or into muscle (intra muscular).
Pathogen - Any disease-producing micro-organism or material.
Peer educator - A person who is trained to educate his/her colleagues and community
about AIDS and related issues.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Gynecological condition caused by an infection (usually sexually transmitted) that spreads from the vagina to the upper parts of a woman's reproductive tract in the pelvic cavity. PID takes different courses in different women, but can cause abscesses and constant pain almost anywhere in the genital tract. If left untreated, it can cause infertility or more frequent periods.
Perinatal - Pertaining to or occurring in the period shortly before and after birth, variously defined as beginning with completion of the 20th to 28th week of gestation and ending 7 to 28 days after birth.
Perinatal Transmission - Transmission of a pathogen, such as HIV, from mother to baby before, during or after birth process.
Pharmacokinetics - The processes (in a living organism) of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of a drug or vaccine.
Placebo - A substance that has no activity, often used in a clinical study so that participants do not know if they are receiving the active (study drug) or the inactive placebo. This approach assists in performing clinical studies and determining whether a drug is active against a disease.
Plasma – The liquid part of the blood and lymph that contains nutrients, electrolytes (dissolved salts), gases, albumin, clotting factors, wastes and hormones.
Platelets – Active agents of inflammation that are released when damage occurs to a blood vessel. The platelets stick to the blood vessel walls, forming clots to prevent the loss of blood. Some persons living with HIV develop thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by a platelet count of < 100,000 platelets per cubic millimeter of blood.
PLHA – People living with HIV/AIDS.
PLWHA – People living with HIV/AIDS.
PMTCT – Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (of HIV).
Pneumocystis Carinii (also called Pneumocystis jyroveci) Pneumonia (PCP) – An infection of the lungs caused by Pneumocystis Carinii, which is thought to be a protozoan, but may be more closely related to a fungus. P carinii grows rapidly in the lungs of persons with AIDS and is a frequent AIDS related cause of death. P carinii infection sometimes may occur elsewhere in the body (skin, eye, spleen, liver or heart).
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – A laboratory process that selects a DNA segment from a mixture of DNA chains and rapidly multiplies it to create a large sample of a piece of DNA. It is a sensitive laboratory technique that can detect and measure HIV in a person’s blood or lymph nodes (also called RT-PCR). It is also a means of measuring the amount of virus in the blood (viral load).
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) – As it relates to HIV disease, a potentially preventative treatment using anti-retroviral drugs to treat individuals within 72 hours of a high-risk exposure (e.g., needle-stick injury, unprotected sex, needle sharing) to prevent HIV infection.
Pre and Post-Test Counseling - Occurs before an individual has undergone the HIV test (pre-test) and counseling when the individual gets the result of the test (post-test), irrespective of whether the HIV test is positive or negative.
Prophylaxis – Treatment to prevent the onset of a particular disease (primary prophylaxis) or the recurrence of symptoms in an existing infection that has been brought under control (secondary prophylaxis, maintenance therapy).
Protease – An enzyme that breaks down proteins into their component peptides. HIV’s protease enzyme breaks apart long strands of viral protein into the separate proteins making up the viral core. The enzyme acts as new virus particles are budding off a cell membrane. Protease is the first HIV protein, whose three-dimensional structure has been characterized.
Protease Inhibitors – Antiviral drugs that act by inhibiting the virus protease enzyme, thereby preventing viral replication. Specifically, these drugs block the protease enzyme from breaking apart long strands of viral proteins to make the smaller, active HIV proteins that compromise the virion. If the larger HIV proteins are not broken apart, they cannot assemble themselves into new functional HIV particles. HIV protease inhibitors include indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir and fosamprenavir.
Protease-Sparing Regimen – An anti-retroviral drug regimen that does not include a protease inhibitor.
QD – Once each day.
QID – Four times each day.
Rapid HIV Test – A screening test for detecting antibody to HIV that produces very quick results, usually in 5 to 30 minutes. For diagnosis of HIV infection, a positive rapid test is confirmed with a second rapid test made by a different manufacturer.
Replacement Feeding – The process of feeding a child who is not receiving any breast milk with a diet that provides all the nutrients the child needs. During the first 6 months this should be with a suitable breast-milk substitute—commercial formula or home-prepared formula with micronutrient supplements. After 6 months it preferably should be with a suitable breast-milk substitute and complementary foods made from appropriately prepared and nutrient-enriched family foods, given three times a day. If suitable breast-milk substitutes are not available, appropriately prepared family foods should be further enriched and given five times a day.
Resistance - Reduction in a microorganism’s sensitivity to a particular drug. Resistance is thought to result usually from a genetic mutation. In HIV, such mutations can change the structure of viral enzymes and proteins so that an antiviral drug can no longer bind with them as well as it used to.
Retrovirus – A type of virus that, when not infecting a cell, stores its genetic information on a single-stranded RNA molecule instead of the more usual double-stranded DNA. HIV is an example of a retrovirus.
Reverse Transcriptase – An enzyme capable of copying RNA into DNA during the HIV multiplication cycle. Several anti-HIV drugs—such as AZT, ddl, and ddC—are chemicals that act against the reverse transcriptase enzyme.
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (RTI) – A series of nucleoside analogues that inhibit the reverse transcriptase of HIV. Included in this category are the drugs zidovudine, lamivudine, abacavir, didanosine, stavudine, zalcitabine and emtricitabine.
Reverse Transcriptase - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) – An FDA-approved test to measure viral load. The test is also known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) – A nucleic acid, found mostly in the cytoplasm of cells (rather than in the nucleus) that is important in the synthesis of proteins.
Role Players - Refers jointly to employees, unions and other employee representatives
and the employer.
Salvage Therapy – Also referred to as rescue therapy. A treatment effort for people whose anti-retroviral regimens have failed at least two times and who have had extensive prior exposure to anti-retroviral agents.
Seroconversion – The development of antibodies to a particular bacteria, virus or vaccine. When people develop antibodies to HIV, they seroconvert from antibody-negative to antibody-positive. It may take from as little as 1 week to several months or more after infection with HIV for antibodies of the virus to develop. After antibodies to HIV appear in the blood, a person should test positive on antibody tests.
Serologic Test – Any number of tests that are performed on the clear fluid portion of blood. Often refers to a test that determines the presence of antibodies to antigens such as viruses.
Seroprevalence – As related to HIV infection, the proportion of persons who have serologic (i.e., pertaining to serum) evidence of HIV infection at any given time.
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) – Also called venereal disease (VD), (an older public health term) or Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). STDs are infections spread by the transfer of organisms from person to person during sexual contact. In addition to the “traditional” STDs (syphilis and gonorrhea), the spectrum of STDs now includes HIV infection, which causes AIDS; Chlamydia trachomatis infections; Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection; genital herpes; chancroid; genital mycoplasmas; hepatitis B; trichomoniasis; enteric infections and ectoparasitic diseases (i.e., diseases caused by organisms that live on the outside of the host’s body). The complexity and scope of STDs have increased dramatically since the 1980s; more than 20 microorganisms and syndromes are now recognized as belonging in this category.
SGOT – (Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase) Also known as AST (Aspartate Amino Transaminase), a liver enzyme that plays a role in protein metabolism. Elevated serum levels of SGOT are a sign of liver damage from disease or drugs.
SGPT – (Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase) Also known as ALT (Alanine Amino Transaminase), a liver enzyme that plays a role in protein metabolism similar to that of SGOT. Elevated serum levels of SGPT are a sign of liver damage from disease or drugs.
SHIV (Simian Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - A genetically engineered virus having an HIV envelope and an SIV core.
Side Effects – The actions or effects of a drug (or vaccine) other than those desired. The term usually refers to undesired or negative effects, such as headache, skin irritation or liver damage. Experimental drugs must be evaluated for both immediate and long-term side effects.
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) – An HIV-like virus that infects monkeys, chimpanzees and other non-human primates.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome – A severe and sometimes fatal form of erythema multiforme that is characterized by severe skin manifestations; conjunctivitis (eye inflammation), which often results in blindness; Vincent’s angina (trench mouth) and ulceration of the genitals and anus.
TDF – Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate.
Therapy – Any form of treatment. Drugs, radiation and psychiatric counseling are forms of therapy.
3TC – Lamivudine.
Thrush – Sore patches in the mouth caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Thrush is one of the most frequent early symptoms or signs of an immune disorder. The fungus commonly lives in the mouth, but only causes problems when the body’s resistance is reduced either by antibiotics that have reduced the number of competitive organisms in the mouth or by an immune deficiency such as HIV disease.
TID – Three times each day.
TIW – Three times each week.
TMP/SMZ – Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (generic name); Cotrimoxazole, Bactrim, Septrin (trade names).
Toxoplasmosis – it is an infection that is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is carried by cats, birds and other animals and is found in soil contaminated by cat feces and in meat, particularly pork. The parasite can infect the lungs, retina of the eye, heart, pancreas, liver, colon and testes. Once T gondii invades the body, it remains there, but the immune system in a healthy person usually prevents the parasite from causing disease. If the immune system becomes severely damaged, as in HIV-infected persons, or is suppressed by drugs, T gondii can begin to multiply and cause severe disease. In HIV-infected persons, the most common site of toxoplasmosis is the brain. When T gondii invades the brain, causing inflammation, the condition is called toxoplasmic encephalitis. While the disease in HIV-infected persons can generally be treated with some success, lifelong therapy is required to prevent its reoccurrence.
Transmission – In the context of HIV disease, HIV is spread most commonly by sexual contact with an infected partner. The virus can enter the body through the mucosal lining of the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum or rarely, the mouth during sex.
The likelihood of transmission is increased by factors that may damage these linings, especially other sexually transmitted diseases that cause ulcers or inflammation. HIV also is spread through contact with infected blood, most often by the sharing of drug needles or syringes contaminated with minute quantities of blood containing the virus. Children can contract HIV from their infected mothers either during pregnancy or birth or postnatal through breast-feeding. In developed countries, HIV is now rarely transmitted by transfusion of blood or blood products because of screening measures.
Transplacental – Across or through the placenta. Usually refers to the exchange of nutrients, waste products and other materials (e.g., drugs) between the developing fetus and the mother. Also refers to transmission of virus such as HIV across the placenta to the infant.
Trimethoprim/Sulphamethoxazole – (Cotrimoxazole, Bactrim)
A combination antibiotic drug effective at preventing and treating Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP); also serves as prophylaxis against toxoplasmosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) – Infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as evidenced by a positive Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) that screens for infection with this organism. Sometimes, TST is called a purified protein derivative (PPD) or Mantoux test. A positive skin test might or might not indicate active TB disease. Thus, any person with a positive TST should be screened for active TB and once active TB is excluded, evaluated for treatment to prevent the development of TB disease. TB infection alone is not considered an opportunistic infection indicating possible immune deficiency.
Vaginal Candidiasis – Infection of the vagina caused by the yeast-like fungus Candida (especially Candida albicans). Symptoms include, pain, itching, redness and white patches in the vaginal wall. It can occur in all women, but it is especially common in women with HIV infection. The usual treatment is a cream applied locally to the vagina. Women with HIV infection may experience frequent reoccurrence of symptoms and may require systemic medications in order to treat these symptoms successfully.
VCT – Voluntary Counseling and Testing.
Vertical Transmission – Transmission of a pathogen such as HIV from mother to fetus or baby during pregnancy or birth.
Viral Burden/Viral Load – The amount of HIV in the circulating blood. Monitoring a person’s viral burden is important because of the apparent correlation between the amount of virus in the blood and the severity of the disease. Sicker patients generally have more virus than those with less advanced disease. A sensitive, rapid test—called the viral load assay for HIV-1 infection—can be used to monitor the HIV viral burden. This procedure may help clinicians decide when to give anti-HIV therapy or to switch drugs. It may also help investigators determine more quickly whether experimental HIV therapies are effective.
Viral Load Test – In relation to HIV, a test that measures the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Results are expressed as the number of copies per milliliter of blood plasma. Research indicates that viral load is a better predictor of the risk of HIV disease progressi
