Glossary

prophylaxis – a treatment taken before an illness in order to prevent it occuring. Primary prophylaxis is the terming for taking a preventative treatment before ever having had the illness. Secondary prophylaxis is the term for continuing to take a treatment to prevent the illness coming back.

methadone – a man-made opiate that used to treat heroin addiction. See also buprenorphine.

mitochondria – energy producing factories that live inside other cells.

jaundice – a common symptom of hepatitis where increased levels of bilirubin lead to a yellowing of the skin or eyes.

T-cell – a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte) that are part of the immune system and that mature in the thymus (T). CD4 cells are also called T-cells.