j----_. - New York Civil Liberties Union

Mahopac 517
Immunization - A method of producing resistance to
an infectious disease, usually by vaccination or inoculation.
Incubation period -- The time interval between invasion
by an infectious agent and appearance of the
£irst sign or symptom of the disease in question.
Infected partner - Individual in a sexual relationship
who is carrying the AIDS virus (HIV) in his/her
body.
Infectious agent - An organism (virus, bacterium,
etc.) that is capable of producing infection or infectious
disease.
Intravenous drugs - Drugs that are administered
through a needle and syringe and injected directly
into a vein and thus into the bloodstream.
Kaposi's sarcoma - A cancer or tumor of the blood
and/or lymphatic vessel walls. It usually appears as
blue-violet to brownish skin blotches or bumps.
Lymphocyte - A type of white blood cell that is produced
in the bone marrow. Some of these cells migrate
to the thymus, where they develop as T-cells.
Other lymphocytes that mature in the bone marrow
orin organs other than the thymus are called B-
cells. The B-cells manufacture antibodies, and the T-
cells regulate antibody production. In healthy people
about 60 percent of circulating lymphocytes are
helper T-cells. With AIDS, only about two percent
of the lymphocytes are helper T-cells. With fewer
helper T-cells, the body is unable to recognize and
attack invading organisms.
Method of entry - Manner in which organisms enter
the host's body.
Method of escape - Manner in which organisms leave
the host's body.
Mode of transmission - Manner in which an infectious
agent is transmitted from one person to another.
Monogamous - Having sexual intercourse with only
one individual over a very long period of time.
Needles and works - Devices used to prepare and inject
drugs directly into the vein and thus into the
bloodstream.
Noncommunicable disease - A disease that is not
transmitted from person to person.
Opportunistic infection - An infection caused by a mí- (~~
croorganísm that rarely causes disease in persons
with a normal immune system.
Organism - Any living thing, such as a virus, a bacterium,
etc.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia - The most common
life-threatening opportunistic Infection diagnosed
in AIDS patients. It is caused by a parasite,
Pneumocystis carinii.
Pregnancy - The condition of having a developing embryo
Ol' fetus in the body.
Risk factor - Activity that makes a person more susceptible
or more likely to be exposed to the AIDS
virus (HIV).
Semen - The fluid that is expelled from the penis during
sexual activity.
Sexual abstinence - Not having sexual intercourse
with another person.
Sexual intercourse - Physical sexual contact between
individuals that involves the genitalia of at least one
person. Includes vaginal intercourse, oral intercourse,
and anal intercourse.
Spectrum - A range of factors associated with HIV infection
or a range of outcomes. (
Susceptible host - A person not possessing sufficient
resistance against a particular organism to prevent
contracting the infection when exposed to the organism.
'f-cells - A class of lymphocytes that play a major role
in carrying out the activities of the immune system.
Some T-cells are called helper T-cells.
Transmission - The passing of infectious agents from
one person to another.
Uterus (womb) - Hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ
in females in which the unborn baby develops.
Vaginal secretions
that can cause infec-
Virus - A microscopic organism
tions.
- Fluids within the vaginal tract.
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