AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – HIV will
become AIDS if it is not treated. AIDS can kill you.
Antibodies
Antibodies are made by the immune system to
fight germs.
Antiretroviral therapy
Medicine that attacks HIV.
CD4 (T4) cell
Part of your blood that protects you from illness and that is damaged by HIV.
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus - a germ you can get from sex, sharing needles, and can be passed on from mothers to baby.
Immune System
Your body’s way of protecting itself against illness.
Immunodeficiency
Your body is not able to protect itself.
Hep B
Hepatitis B – a type of liver sickness caused by a germ mainly spread by sex, sharing needles, and mothers to baby.
Hep C
Hepatitis C – a type of liver sickness mainly spread by sharing injecting equipment.
NSP
Needle and Syringe Program – a place where people who inject drugs can get injecting equipment, information and support.
PEP
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis – a pill you take everyday for a month very soon after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent HIV.
PLHIV
People Living with HIV.
PrEP Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis – a pill that HIV negative people take to prevent HIV.
STIs
Sexually Transmissible Infections – diseases that can be passed on when having sex.
Treatment as Prevention
When a person with HIV takes treatment and has an ‘undetectable viral load’, they cannot pass on HIV.
Undetectable viral load
When a person with HIV takes treatment and the amount of HIV in their blood is so small, it doesn’t show up in tests.
Viral load
How much HIV is in your blood.
Virus
A small organism (germ) often causing illness.
Window period
How long it takes for HIV to show up in a test – usually 6 to 12 weeks after it enters your body.
