Page 40 - 78 glossary of hivaids-related terms_opt

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
The U.S. government’s principal agency for protecting the health
of all Americans and for providing essential human services. HHS
includes more than 300 programs that cover a wide spectrum
of activities. More than 300 programs are administered by 11
D
operating divisions, including the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). HHS works closely with state and
local governments, and many HHS-funded services are provided at
the local level by state or county agencies or through private-sector
grantees. http://www.hhs.gov/

Desensitization
A gradual increase in the dose of a medicine to avoid severe side
effects. Desensitization procedures are sometimes used when
administering some anti-HIV drugs and antibiotics.

DEXA
See: Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Scan

Diabetes
Also known as diabetes mellitus. A disease characterized by high
levels of sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia). It can be caused by too
little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood
sugar), resistance to insulin, or both. Some anti-HIV drugs may
cause or worsen diabetes.
See Also: Hyperglycemia
Insulin Resistance

Diarrhea
Uncontrolled, loose, watery, and frequent bowel movements caused
by diet, infection, drug, or irritation or inflammation of the intestine.
Severe or long-lasting diarrhea can lead to weight loss and
malnutrition. The most common infectious organisms that cause
HIV-related diarrhea include cytomegalovirus (CMV); the parasites
Cryptosporidium, Microsporidia, and Giardia; and the bacteria
Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. Bacteria

38 HIV/AIDS Glossary