Glossary

diagnosis – identifying the cause of an illness.

mutation – a change in the genetic structure of an organism (including a virus like HIV). See resistance.

Changing treatment and drug resistance.

salvage therapy – a term for the combination therapy used after someone has developed resistance to three or more classes of HIV drugs. Also called ‘third-line’ or ‘rescue therapy’ or ‘treatment of patients with multidrug resistance’.

mucosal lining is the moist, inner lining of some organs and body cavities (such as the nose, mouth, vagina, lungs, and stomach). Glands in the mucosa make mucous, a thick, slippery fluid. A mucosal lining is also called a mucous membrane.

thrombocytopenia – a low platelet count (platelets help stop bleeding by clotting blood).