Paul M. Insel,
Stanford University School of Medicine
Walton T. Roth,
Stanford University School of Medicine
| acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) | A generally fatal, incurable, sexually transmitted viral disease.
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| human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | The virus that causes HIV infection and AIDS.
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| sexually transmitted disease (STD) | A disease that can be transmitted by sexual contact; some STDs can also be transmitted by other means.
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| HIV infection | A chronic, progressive disease that damages the immune system.
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| CD4 T cell | A type of white blood cell that helps coordinate the activity of the immune system; the primary target for HIV infection. A decrease in the number of these cells correlates with the risk and severity of HIV-related illness.
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| asymptomatic | Showing no signs or symptoms of a disease.
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| hemophilia | A hereditary blood disease in which blood fails to clot and abnormal bleeding occurs, requiring transfusions of blood products with a specific factor to aid coagulation.
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| HIV RNA assay | A test used to determine the amount of HIV in the blood (the "viral load").
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| Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia | A protozoal infection that is common in people infected with HIV.
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| Kaposi's sarcoma | A form of cancer characterized by purple or brownish lesions that are generally painless and occur anywhere on the skin; usually appears in men infected with HIV.
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| HIV antibody test | A blood test to determine whether a person has been infected by HIV; becomes positive within weeks or months of exposure.
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| ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) | A blood test that detects the presence of antibodies to HIV.
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| Western blot | A blood test that detects the presence of HIV antibodies; a more accurate and more expensive test, and used to confirm positive results from an ELISA test.
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| antibody | A protein produced in the blood in response to a foreign substance to which it binds.
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| HIV-positive | A diagnosis resulting from the presence of HIV in the bloodstream; also referred to as seropositive.
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| reverse transcriptase inhibitor | An antiviral drug used to treat HIV infection that works by inhibiting reverse transcriptase, the enzyme that converts viral RNA to DNA.
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| protease inhibitor | A drug that inhibits the action of any of the protein-splitting enzymes known as proteases. Protease inhibitors have been developed to block the action of HIV protease and thus prevent the replication of HIV.
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| seroconversion | The appearance of antibodies to HIV in the blood of an infected person; usually occurs 1-6 months after infection.
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| *chlamydia | An STD transmitted by the pathogenic bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.
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| epididymitis | An inflammation of the small body of ducts that rests on the testes.
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| urethritis | Inflammation of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside opening.
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| gonorrhea | A sexually transmitted bacterial infection that usually affects mucous membranes.
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| gonococcal conjunctivitis | An inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the eyelids, caused by the gonococcus bacterium.
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| pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) | An infection that progresses from the vagina and cervix to the uterus, oviducts, and pelvic cavity.
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| genital warts | A sexually transmitted viral infection characterized by growths on the genitals; also called genital HPV infection.
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| human papillomavirus (HPV) | The pathogen that causes human warts, including genital warts.
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| genital herpes | A sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus.
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| hepatitis | Inflammation of the liver, which can be caused by infection, drugs, or toxins; some forms of infectious hepatitis can be transmitted sexually.
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| syphilis | A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum.
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| chancre | The sore produced by syphilis in its earliest stage.
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| trichomoniasis | A protozoal infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, transmitted sexually and externally.
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| bacterial vaginosis (BV) | A condition linked to sexual activity; caused by an overgrowth of certain bacteria inhabiting the vagina.
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| chancroid | A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi.
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| pubic lice | Parasites that infest the hair of the pubic region, commonly called crabs.
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| scabies | A contagious skin disease caused by a type of parasitic mite.
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| opportunistic infection | An infection caused when organisms take the opportunity presented by a primary (initial) infection to multiply and cause a secondary infection.
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| microbicide | An agent that destroys microorganisms; also known as an antiseptic.
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education