Glossary

abscess - A collection of pus formed as the result of infection.

antibiotic - A drug that affects bacteria.

bacteria - A single-celled micro-organism

biopsy - A small sample of tissue that can be examined for signs of disease.

bronchoscopy - A medical procedure using a flexible tube that enables examination and biopsy of the lungs.

CD4 - A molecule on the surface of some cells on to which HIV can bind. The CD4 cell count roughly reflects the state of the immune system.

hepatitis - Inflammation of the liver

immune system - The body’s mechanism for fighting infections and eradicating dysfunctional cells.

leukopenia - Fewer than normal white blood cells, usually due to bone marrow damage.

lymph nodes - Special areas in the body where white blood cells and other important immune cells are found. Also known as glands.

meningitis - Inflammation of the outer lining of the brain.

NNRTI - Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, the family of antiretrovirals that includes efavirenz, etravirine and nevirapine.

NRTI - Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, the family of antiretrovirals that includes 3TC, abacavir, AZT, d4T, ddI, and FTC.

opportunistic infection - Specific infections that cause illness in someone with a damaged immune system.

peripheral neuropathy - Damage to the nerves of the hands and/or feet, causing symptoms ranging from numbness to excruciating pain.

protease inhibitor - Family of antiretrovirals that target the protease enzyme. Includes atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir and tipranavir.

pulmonary - Affecting the lungs.

regimen - A drug or treatment combination and the way it is taken.

strain - A variant of a disease characterised by its genotype.

thrombocytopenia - A decreased number of specific cells (responsible for clotting) in the blood.

tuberculosis - A disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

viral load - Measurement of the amount of virus in a sample. HIV viral load indicates the extent to which HIV is reproducing in the body.