Archives

viral load test – a test that detects whether a virus is present (qualatitive) or that measures the amount of virus (quantitative). This is usually in a sample of blood, but a viral load test can also be used to …

virological failure – the term for when viral load levels never reach undetectable, or if they rebound to higher levels after previously being undetectable. See clinical failure.

virology – the study of viruses.

virus – an infectious organism that can only reproduce inside the cell of another plant or animal.

wasting – loss of lean body mass (muscle loss). A unplanned or unexplained wight loss of more than 5% body weight over six months can be an AIDS-defining illness. Weight loss and wasting section of the training manual.

weight loss – a general reduction in weight. Weight loss can often be a symptom of other opportunistic infections. Weight loss and wasting section of the training manual.

WHO (World Health Organisation) – international organisation involved in global responses to HIV. WHO website.

syphilis – an STI that is a bacterial infection, usually transmitted by sexual contact. Untreated, syphilis can cause serious injury to an unborn baby.

symptomatic – showing signs of illness.

symptom – a sign of illness.

Summary of Product Characteristics (SPCs) – detailed information about a drug provided by the maker that is approved by the European Regulatory Agency (EMEA/CPMP). Also called EPARs. EMEA published SPCs

substitution therapy – using a prescription drug, eg methadone or buprenorphine, to stop using heroin.

study population – the group of people in a study.

STI (sexually transmitted infection) – other STIs include herpes, gonorrhoea and syphilis etc.

standard deviation (SD) – the standard deviation from a mean average, is a measure of the degree of variation from the mean.

spinal tap – See lumbar puncture.

side effect – an unwanted effect from taking a medicine. Sometimes called an adverse event or drug toxicity.

SIDA – the abbreviation for AIDS in French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

severity – a measure of how bad something is.

seroreversion – the word for when the baby born to an HIV-positive mother, no longer has the mother’s antibodies to HIV.