Glossary

empirical treatment – treating an illness based on its symptoms to see if it gets better.

ribavirin – drug used to boost the efficacy of pegylated interferon to treat hepatitis C. Given as twice-daily capsules.

haemoglobin – substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

immune system – the system that your body uses to fight infections.

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) – a short course of HIV treatment to HIV to reduce the chance of infection. See prophylaxis and PrEP.