viral rebound – when your viral load has been undetectable (under 50 copies/mL) and then becomes detectable. Sometimes viral rebound can be a lab error, sometimes a small temporary blip, and sometimes a real rebound that shows your virus may have developed resistance to one or more of the drugs in a combination treatment. See: virological failure.
Glossary
Selected words and phrases
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome – a type of severe rash that is luckily rare. This rash has been reported in 0.1–0.3% of people using NNRTIs. It can also occur with other drugs including antibiotics (including cotrimoxazole/Septrin). Any rash on an NNRTI should be shown to your doctor to decide whether treatment needs to be switched or can continue.
Fibroscan – a non-invasive ultrasound scan that measures the ‘elasticity’ or stiffness of the liver.
CART – combination anti-retroviral therapy.
antibody – a protein that is part of your immune system that is produced to fight an infection. Each antibody recognises a specific antigen.