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AIDS The
initials AIDS stand for Acquired (A) Immune (1) Deficiency (D) Syndrome (S) -
a group of symptoms and signs caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV).
Antigen test A laboratory test done on a sample of a person's blood to detect
the presence of parts of the HIV organism itself. The virus is present only
in minute amounts and, in addition, cannot be found with this method during
many stages of infection.
Azidothymidine(AZT) Also known as zidovudine, retrovir, or
3'-azido- 3'-deoxy-thymine. This drug interferes with one of the HIV enzymes
(reverse transcriptase) responsible for replication of the virus. The virus
cannot multiply quickly, and so damage by the virus to the immune system is
slowed down. Side effects of the drug include severe anaemia.
The long-term effects are not known. Currently it is only used for some of
the people who have already developed AIDS. Because of its side effects, its
use requires skilled medical supervision. Current cost of a course of AZT for
one person over one year is about US$ 10,000.
Asymptomatic An HIV-infected person who appears well but is capable of
transmitting
HIV-infected person the infection to another person. Such persons may not
have out-ward signs or symptoms of the infection they
carry.
B Cell A
lymphocyte which matures in the bone marrow (hence B-cell), and produces
antibodies.
Bi-sexual person An individual who has sexual relations with both males and females.
Blood product Substances that can be produced from human blood to treat a variety
of medical conditions such as haemophilia.
Casual contact (casual sex) A sexual encounter with another person that
does not lead to a long term relationship.
Casual social contact This is contact with individuals that is not of a
sexual nature.
CD4 count
A measure of the number of CD4 lymphocytes in the blood of HIV-infected
persons. This measurement is usually obtained to establish baseline
information for a patient before initiating treatment with AZT and thereafter
monitoring the course of infection.
Care provider Any individual or group that provides care for individuals with
symptomatic HIV infection in the home or in a health facility.
Condom
A soft rubber device made of latex which is worn by the male before sexual
intercourse begins and during intercourse. The condom prevents sperm from
entering the female genital tract and thus prevents pregnancy. The condom
also prevents contact with seminal and vaginal fluids thereby preventing the
transmission of STD and/or HIV from either partner.
CSW
Commonly used abbreviation for'commercial sex
worker'. A CSW is an individual, man or woman, who engages in sexual acts for
the sole purpose of soliciting payment.
Combination therapy A commonly used term to describe the use of more than
one drug to treat a medical condition.
Contact tracing or It is a public health measure to interrupt transmission
of sexually
partner notification transmitted infections by
finding, interviewing and offering treatment to sexual partners of patients
(clients) diagnosed as having sexually transmitted disease (STD). Since many
STDs have no symptoms, contacts may be unaware of their infected status and
may need education and counselling before they
agree to undergo treatment.
CounsellingA confidential dialogue between a
client and a care provider aimed at enabling the client to cope with stress
and take personal decisions related to HIV/AIDS. The counselling
process involves the evaluation of personal risk of HIV transmission and
facilitation of preventive behaviour (see pre- and
post-test counselling).
Comprehensive The provision of medical and nursing care, counselling
and social care
HIV/AIDS
support services to individuals affected by HIV. These services, when
provided, can help meet the needs of most people.
Continuum of care The provision of comprehensive care from the hospital to the home,
which advocates the pooling together of medical and social services within
the community and the creation of linkages between community care initiatives
at all levels of the health care system.
DNA Deoxy-ribo-nucleic acid (DNA) is the nuclear protein of
cells (genetic material) that forms part of the chromosomes. It is the
chemical in cells that is responsible for 'remembering' all the structures
and functions of a cell, and for maintaining that memory in all future
generations of cells. When a cell divides, the DNA divides and identical
portions are transmitted to both cells. HIV becomes part of the DNA of white
blood cells, and so is transmitted to all progeny of those cells.
ELISA
Short for Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay. A
test that is used to detect specific antibodies made in response to infection
by different organisms.
Epidemiology The study of the distribution and determinants of an infection or
disease event in a defined population group.
False negative test result A test which fails to detect antibodies
to HIV despite the presence of antibodies. This is very rare
indeed.
False positive test A test which indicates the presence of antibodies to
HIV when in fact the person does not have antibodies.
GPA
Global Programme on AIDS (1987 - 1995). The WHO programme
formerly responsible for leading a global effort against HIV/AIDS. Some of
the work that GPA carried out continues under a new unit within WE0, theAlDS and STD Division (ASD). This collaborates with
the joint UN programme (see UNAIDS).
HIV The
abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that can cause to
the development of AIDS. This virus was previously known by a variety of
names such as LAV and HTLV III. Two types of HIV have been isolated so far:
HIV I and 2.
Person with HIV A person who, on testing, has been found to have antibodies to HIV.
If the test is truly positive, then it means the person has been infected
with HIV. Most people develop antibodies to HIV between six weeks and three
months after infection, but some may take up to six months to develop
antibodies. The person may look and feel perfectly well, but is potentially
infectious to other people. The test may be a false positive, in which case
the person does not really have antibodies.
Person testing Negative A person who, on testing, does not have antibodies to
HIV, and hence for H1V either is not infected, has recently been
infected but has not yet produced antibodies (window period), or was infected
some time ago, but is no longer producing antibody
Home-based care The care of persons living with HIV infection and AIDS in their
homes.
(home care)
This involves the provision of comprehensive care by community members, NGOs,
Community Based Organizations (CBOs), health
workers and family members. This type of care is complementary to the
existing health care services.
HIV test
Refers to one of the HIV antibody tests. Laboratory tests are performed on a
sample of a person@is blood to detect the presence
or absence of antibodies to HIV. The presence of antibodies in an adult
indicates that the person has been infected with the virus. The most commonly
used test is the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent-Assay
(ELISA).
Human rights The basic entitlement accorded to every human being. The rights
include the right to health, education, shelter, employment, property, food,
freedom of expression and movement.
IEC
Information, Education & Communication (IEC), which comprises a range of
approaches, activities and outputs to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS for behaviour change.
IDU An
abbreviation for 'Intravenous drug use'. This means the practice of using
drugs through injection into the veins. Immune deficiency When a person's
immune system is deficient and cannot satisfactorily protect the body,
resulting in an increased susceptibility to infection.
Immune suppression When the ability of a person to resist or overcome
infection has been severely reduced. This may be due to the intake of certain
drugs used for treatment or to frequent infections.
Immune system The body's defence mechanism against
attack by bacteria, viruses, harmful food substances, and some proteins. The
number of new cases in a population occurring over a specified Incidence period of time.Incubation
period The time between infection by a disease-causing organism and the
onset of signs and symptoms of the disease.
Kaposi’s sarcoma A rare cancer affecting the walls of blood
vessels, which usually appears as pink to purple painless spots on the skin.
It is one of the opportunistic infections (it is thought to be caused by a
virus) to which people with AIDS are prone. It is uncommon in South-East
Asia.
Lymph glands These are small glands, or nodes, in the body which
contain large numbers of white blood cells. Agents of infection are channelled into the lymph system, and so forced to meet
the white blood cells in the lymph glands. Infections cause swelling of these
glands.
Lymphadenopathy Swelling of lymph glands, or
nodes. Swollen, firm and possibly tender lymph nodes are commonly found in
the groin, armpits and neck. The cause may range from an acute
(short-lasting) infection like flu to lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes)
and HIV infection.
Lymphocytes A class of white blood cell responsible for regulation
of the immune system. The cells are divided into B Cells (which produce
antibodies) and T Cells (which destroy organisms or infected cells).
Mandatory blood testing Means HIV testing without
consent. This form of testing is useful only blood testing for the screening
of blood, semen, organs and human tissue for treatment of medical conditions.
It must not be used for any other purpose. Mandatory testing has no role in
National AIDS programmes.
MSM An abbreviation for men who have sex with men.
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) The development of tuberculosis
bacillus strains that are resistant to most of the drugs that are
commonly used. This often results from improper and injudicious use of drugs.
NAC An
abbreviation for National AIDS Committee. This is the committee NAC
responsible for the development of HIV/AIDS policies in a country.
NAP An
abbreviation for National AIDS Programme. This is the operational arm of the
NAC, responsible for facilitating and implementing AIDS policies in a
country.
Opportunistic infections Infections that are caused by
organisms to which the body is normally immune. When the immune system is
depressed or destroyed, as in AIDS, opportunistic infections can take hold.
Partner notification The contact of an individual who has been exposed to an
STD through the partner that attended a health facility.
Pneumocystis carinii One of the opportunistic
infections seen in immune- suppressed pneumonia (PCP) people in developed
countries.
Polymerase
A new technique that can be used to multiply one DNA molecule chain reaction
(PCR) millions of times so that it can be detected by other tests. This is
used to detect the HIV virus in a situation when antibodies are not yet
developed.
Post-test counselling Dialogue between a client and a
care provider aimed at discussing the HIV test result and providing
appropriate information, support and referral, and at encouraging risk
reduction behaviours.
Pre-test counselling Dialogue between a client and a
care provider before an HIV test aimed at discussing the HIV test and the
possible implications of knowing ones HIV sero-status.
This leads to an informed decision as to whether to have the test performed
or not.
Protease inhibitor A class of antiviral agents that disrupt the normal
function of an enzyme called HIV protease, preventing HIV replication.
Currently available information shows the effectiveness of these agents and
hit towards the possibility of the development of a cure in foreseeable
future.
Retrovirus
Retroviruses are a class of viruses characterized by their ability to convert
RNA to DNA during replication in the host cell (instead of the reverse as in
most other viruses). To do this, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase is
required. HIV belongs to this group of viruses.
Reverse transcriptaseAn enzyme which HIV uses to replicate itself. Much research is being
devoted to finding a drug which will inhibit this and thus prevent HIV
replication.
RNA An
abbreviation for ribo-nucleic acid, the genetic
material inside a cell that is used to make
structural and functional components. HIV is an RNA virus.
Safer sex
Sexual practices which reduce the risk of transmitting HIV during sexual
activity, e.g. condom use. Unsafe Sex, on the other hand, allows exposure to
fluids that can transmit HIV.
Sero-conversion When an individual who is HIV antibody negative becomes
antibody positive after exposure to the virus, i.e. the blood serum has been
converted from negative to positive. During this process the person may
suffer an acute illness. In the case of HfV
infection, the symptoms may be those of flu and/or swollen glands. Sometimes
no symptoms are observed.
Sentinel surveillance for HIV/AIDS Unlinked and anonymous testing of
blood for the purpose of monitoring the prevalence
and trends in HIV infection over time and place in a given population.
Sexually transmitted Any disease that is usually acquired while
having unprotected sex disease (STD) with an infected partner. Such
diseases may also be transmitted by other routes.
Syndrome
A set of symptoms and signs resulting from a single cause, or so commonly
occurring together that a definite clinical picture is manifest.
T-helper cells Also called T4 cells. These are one type of white blood cell or
lymphocyte that helps in defending against disease by initiating antibody
production. In people with AIDS, T-helper cells are so depleted that the
immune system no longer fights off disease and opportunistic infections can
occur.
T-suppressor cells Also called T8 cells. These are another
type of lymphocyte or white blood cell. They inhibit antibody production when
the infection has been overcome.
T-cell ratio The proportion of T-helper to T-suppressor cells. In a
healthy person, this proportion is approximately 2: 1. In an AIDS patient, it
drops below 0.5:1 (i.e., it becomes inverted).
Targeted interventions Programmes
or activities targeted to specific population groups in order to achieve
specific objectives. For example, increasing the use of condoms among truck
drivers in order to reduce STD, rates.
Transmission The spread of infectious agents from one person to
another. The predominant mode of HIV transmission is through sexual
intercourse.
UNAIDS
This is theJoint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS co-sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations International Drug Control Programme
(UNDCP), the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank (WB).
Unlinked anonymous HIV testing
Testing of blood samples for HIV that were originally collected for
other purposes after all the information that can identify the source
of the blood has been removed. The information gathered is used for
surveillance purposes.
Virus
An organism visible only with an electron microscope. Viruses cause a wide
variety of diseases in humans, including some cancers.
Virucides Chemical substances that can kill viruses when
inserted inside the vagina. The potential for widespread use is being tested.
Voluntary testing Testing initiated either by the
client or his or her health care provider and performed with the clients informed consent after pre-test counselling has been provided. The confidentiality of
test results should be maintained.
Western blot A test used to confirm the presence of HIV antibodies detected by
use of the ELISA. This test is no longer recommended (barring exceptions) due
to its cost and the fact that two ELISA tests using different principles
produce results as accurate as does the western blot test.
White blood cells Cells in the blood that
are responsible for fighting infectious agents. There are several
types of white blood cells including lymphocytes.
Window period The period of time when a person has been infected with HIV but has
not yet produced antibodies. This period is usually no longer than 6 to 12
weeks. 
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