HAART: See Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.

HBC: See Hepatitis C.

HBV: See Hepatitis B.

HCV: See Hepatitis C.

HIV: See Human Imunodeficiency Virus.

HPV: See Human Papilloma Virus.

Harm reduction: An intervention approach that promotes and affirms any behavior change that will improve health, improve well-being, or reduce the change of hurting oneself or another person. Harm reduction is the concept behind needle exchange, condom use and many other interventions that serve persons at risk such as drug addicts and sex workers.

Hepatitis B: A viral disease that can be chronic and even life threatening, especially in people with poor immune resistance. As is the case of HIV, sexual contact, contaminated needles, or contaminated blood can transmit the hepatitis B virus. Unlike HIV, it can also be transmitted through close casual contact.

Hepatitis C: HIV infection causes a more rapid progression of chronic hepatitis C to cirrhosis and liver failure in persons with HIV/AIDS. Shares the same route of transmission as HIV.

Herpes simplex: A viral infection, which may cause sores around the moth or genitals.

Herpes viruses: Family of viruses, which can cause disease in HIV infection, e.g. cytomegalovirus and herpes zoster.

Heterosexual: A person who is sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex.

High-risk behaviour: Activities that put an individual at greater risk of contracting a particular infection. In regards to HIV/AIDS, high-risk activities include unprotected sex and the sharing of needles and syringes.

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART): Treatment regimens that aggressively suppress viral replication and progress of HIV disease. The regimen usually combines three or more different drugs, and has been shown to reduce the amount of HIV in a person’s blood so that it becomes undetectable.

Homo-based care: Medical and social services provided in the client’s home. Such services may include medical treatment, physical therapy, and/or assistance in housekeeping, shopping and food preparation.

Homosexual: A person who is attracted to people of the same sex. Gay men and lesbians are homosexual.

Host: A cell or organism that supports the growth of a parasite or virus.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): The retrovirus isolated and generally recognized as the cause of AIDS. When a person is HIV positive, his/her immune system cannot create effective antibodies to stop the infection before it can cause illness. HIV then is able to destroy the immune system, despite the presence of antibodies. HIV Type 1 is classified as a slow virus in the subgroup of retroviruses, while HIV Type 2, though very similar to Type 1, is reportedly prevalent amongst infections in Africa.

Human Pailloma Virus (HPV): The virus that causes genital warts and is linked to cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. There is no cure for HPV, and it is a frequently diagnosed infection in women with HIV/AIDS.

Hyper: A prefix (first part of a word) meaning raised or increased.