HIV/AIDS Glossary of Terms
Description of tool:
This tool provides definitions for vocabulary commonly used to discuss HIV and AIDS.
Teachers can use this information to simplify and clarify the language used in learning
materials and presentations about HIV/AIDS. They might also use this information to
ensure that students who are not native English speakers know what these words
mean in their own language(s) and thus see the relevance and applicability of what
they learn in school to their lives and experiences outside of school.
The information in this tool was adapted by UNESCO from the following sources:
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and the Australian National
Council on AIDS, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases (ANCAHRD), 2000. HIV/AIDS
Media Guide. 2nd Ed. Edited by Ruth Pollard.
http://www.ancahrd.org/pubs/pdfs/mediaguide.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), n.d. Caring for Someone with
AIDS at Home. Published on the web at:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/BROCHURE/careathome.htm.
Description
The AFAO/ANCAHRD Media guide, though designed primarily for people working in
the media, is a useful resource for a range of people dealing with HIV/AIDS. The first
part of the guide deals with the challenges faced by governments and affected
communities in their response to HIV/AIDS. Other sections cover the history of the
virus, transmission, treatments, terminology and a chronological account of HIV/AIDS
in Australia.
The CDC publication is a comprehensive guide for caregivers of people affected by
HIV-related illnesses. Though developed for residents of the United States (CDC is an
agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), most of the
information is relevant for caregivers everywhere.
This information or activity supports Core
Component #3 of the FRESH framework
for effective school health: skills-based
health education. It will have a greater
impact if it is reinforced by activities in the
other three components of the framework.
FRESH Tools for Effective School Health
http://www.unesco.org/education/fresh
First Edition
FRESH Tools for Effective School Health
http://www.unesco.org/education/fresh
First Edition
HIV/AIDS Glossary of Terms1
AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, a syndrome defined by the development of
opportunistic infections resulting from immune system damage caused by a virus called
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Adherence – strict compliance with a prescribed drug therapy in order to avoid resistance.
This can be difficult due to the number of tablets that need to be taken, dose frequency, and
side effects.
Anal sex – sexual intercourse in which the penis is put into the anus (rectum) of the sex
partner.
Antiretroviral – a drug that inhibits the replication of retroviruses such as HIV.
AZT – a medicine to slow the growth of HIV. (An HIV nucleoside analogue antiviral drug.)
Booster – an extra dose of a vaccine to bring immunity back to full strength and stop
illnesses.
CD4 (lymphocyte) cell – a white blood cell also known as a T-4 cell, these cells orchestrate
the immune system’s response to infection and are the cells mainly targeted by HIV.
Chickenpox – a very contagious viral disease, very common in children, that causes sores
(called pox) on the skin. (One of the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious
discomfort and/or illness in someone whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
CMV – cytomegalovirus, a virus that causes a flu-like illness and, in severe cases, swollen
glands, pneumonia, eye infections (retinitis), and birth defects. (One of the ‘opportunistic
infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in someone whose immune
system has been damaged by HIV.)
Combination therapy – the use of two or more types of treatment in combination to achieve
optimum results in suppressing HIV/AIDS and reducing the virus’s toxicity.
Communicable disease – an illness caused by a specific infectious agent or its toxic
products, that arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected
person to a susceptible host.
Condom – a thin protective sheath that fits over the penis during vaginal, anal, or oral sex to
prevent sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy. There are also female condoms that fit
inside the vagina.
Dementia – severe mental problems caused by disease affecting the brain; "losing one's
mind”.
Diarrhoea – excessive or loose, watery bowel movements; "the runs”.
Drug resistance – can occur when HIV goes through genetic changes when it replicates,
which allows the virus to escape the control of a drug, or a whole class of drugs.
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Early intervention – an approach to treatment characterised by action in the early stages of
a condition, in order to prevent disease progression in someone with HIV.
Eczema -- a skin condition with itching, sores, redness, and scaling of the skin. (One of the
‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in someone whose
immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
Epidemic -- a disease attacking many in a community simultaneously.
Epidemiology – the study of the health of particular populations and the application of this
knowledge to control health problems.
Faeces – waste from the bowels, excrement, bowel movements, "crap”.
Gay man – a homosexually active man who identifies himself as gay or is attached to the
gay community, or both. Education programs differentiate between gay men and other
homosexually active men.
Genitals – the sex organs: penis and testicles for males, vagina and uterus for females.
Genotype – a definable gene or pattern of genes.
HAART – Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.
Haemophilia – a hereditary disorder in which the blood does not clot normally, so that cuts
or sores bleed for longer than normal.
Harm Minimisation – the spectrum of strategies for dealing with illicit drug use at the
societal level that includes supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction
initiatives.
Harm Reduction -- the spectrum of strategies for dealing with illicit drug at the individual
level that includes abstinence, peer-based and other education programs, needle and
syringe programs, and detoxification and other treatment options.
Health promotion – a broad, holistic and environmental understanding of health, with an
emphasis on equity and social justice, as a means of improving health via education, social
mobilisation and advocacy.
Hepatitis – an infectious viral disease that inflames the liver, caused by one of a number of
viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E or G).
HIV – human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS.
Homosexually active man – a man who engages in male-to-male sexual behaviour,
regardless of whether he identifies as gay, heterosexual or bisexual.
Hospice -- services provided for dying people.
Immune system – the parts of the body that fight germs in order to maintain health.
Immunizations -- shots or other medical treatments that protect a person from getting a
particular infectious illness.
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Impetigo -- a bacterial, infectious disease in which the skin erupts with sores filled with pus.
(One of the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in
someone whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
Incidence – the number of new cases of a disease in a defined population over a defined
period (usually measured annually).
Infection -- germs (bacteria, viruses, or parasites) present in the body. Infection may or may
not result in illness.
Infectious disease – a disease caused by a germ (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).
Jaundice – a condition sometimes caused by an infection (hepatitis) that causes the eyes,
skin, and urine to turn unusually yellow; can result from damage to the liver.
Latex – a type of rubber used to make condoms, medical gloves, and other very thin, flexible
materials.
Measles -- also called rubella, a very contagious viral disease, usually in children, which
causes red spots on the skin and high fevers. All children should receive a measles vaccine.
(One of the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in
someone whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
Mumps – a very contagious viral disease, common in children, which causes swelling of the
salivary glands. All children should receive a mumps vaccine. (One of the ‘opportunistic
infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in someone whose immune
system has been damaged by HIV.)
Nasal fluid – mucus that comes out of the nose; "snot”.
Needle and syringe programs – authorised programs that distribute, safely dispose of, or
sell needles, syringes and other injecting equipment, as well as provide public health
information to people who inject drugs.
Opportunistic infection -- an infection which rarely causes illness in people with intact
immune systems, but which can become life-threatening for someone with HIV whose
immune system is compromised.
Oral sex – sexual intercourse in which the mouth of one person touches the genitals or anus
of another person.
Pandemic -- a disease affecting or attacking the population of an extensive region.
Parasite -- a plant or animal that lives on or in another plant or animal, usually hurting its
"host”.
Peer education – any education process devised and implemented by members of a
population group which aims to alter the behaviours and attitudes of other members of the
group, for example, gay men delivering gay education programs.
Pneumonia – an infection of the lungs often producing cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.
(One of the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in
someone whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
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Polio – a viral disease (poliomyelitis) that causes inflammation of the spinal cord, often
causing paralysis.
Pre-ejaculate – a clear liquid that lines the urethra during sexual stimulation and can be
released prior to ejaculation.
Prevalence – the total number of all people who have an attribute or disease at a particular
time, divided by the total population at this time.
Prophylaxis – treatment or drugs intended to prevent an infection or disease.
Protease inhibitor – an antiviral drug that inhibits protease – an enzyme HIV needs for
replication.
Replicate – when the virus produces copies of itself.
Risk practice – any behaviour, sexual or otherwise, that can transmit HIV.
Reverse transcriptase inhibitor – a drug that inhibits reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that
is important to the function of HIV.
Rubella – also called German measles, a viral disease that causes birth defects in babies of
women who are infected early in pregnancy. All children should receive a rubella vaccine.
(One of the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in
someone whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
Safe sex, safe sexual practice – sexual activity in which there is no exchange of body
fluids such as semen, pre-ejaculate, vaginal fluids or blood.
Saliva – the fluid in the mouth; “spit”.
Semen – greyish-yellowish fluid that contains sperm and comes out of the penis at orgasm;
"cum”.
Seroconversion – the development of a detectable level of antibodies that occurs after a
person has been exposed to, and infected by, a virus such as HIV.
Shingles -- a viral infection (herpes zoster) that causes painful sores on the skin. (One of
the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious discomfort and/or illness in someone
whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
Side effects -- things, usually bad, that medicines do to some people in addition to the good
things they are supposed to do; for example, a drug could make a person dizzy, make his
joints ache, make her feel like throwing up, etc.
Surveillance -- the continuing scrutiny of all aspects of occurrence and spread of a disease.
TB – a disease (tuberculosis) that usually affects the lungs; formerly called consumption.
Toxoplasmosis – an infection that can damage the eyes and central nervous system, as
well as some internal organs. (One of the ‘opportunistic infections’ that can cause serious
discomfort and/or illness in someone whose immune system has been damaged by HIV.)
Transfusion – a transfer of blood or blood products into the body from one or more other
people.
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Urine – the liquid waste product of the body excreted by the kidneys, "piss," "pee."
Vaccine – an injection (shot) of dead or weakened germs intended to cause the immune
system to make antibodies to a particular germ.
Vaginal sex – sexual intercourse in which the penis is put into the vagina.
Vaginal fluids – the secretions (wetness) produced inside the vagina. During sexual arousal
these secretions usually increase to lubricate the vagina for sexual intercourse.
Viral load – the amount of HIV in blood or semen.
Vomit – matter from the stomach ejected through the mouth, "throw up," "spit-up."
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Adapted from: Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and the Australian National Council on
AIDS, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases (ANCAHRD), 2000. HIV/AIDS Media Guide, 2nd Ed., and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), n.d. Caring for Someone with AIDS at Home. Published on the web at:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/BROCHURE/careathome.htm.
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