Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS


Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS?
1. What conditions are caused by the herps simplex virus? 2.Briefly describe the stages of untreated syphilis 3.Would you consider the effort to educate high school students about HIV and AIDS to be successful? Why or why not?
STDs - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
3. It has only been partly successful. Many people still do not know how HIV is and is not transmitted. They either have no information at all, or they have incorrect information that they believe is correct. I see this every day at my job.
2 :
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are very common worldwide. HSV-1 (often called oral-facial herpes) is transmitted through kissing or sharing drinking utensils, and HSV-2 (often called genital herpes) through sexual contact. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause infections around the face, mouth, and genitals. The infection may not show symptoms for a long time, and then become activated by exposure to the sun, fever, menstruation, emotional stress, a weakened immune system, or acute illness. Once you have herpes, it is likely to recur. In between herpes outbreaks, the virus lies dormant (like it is hibernating or sleeping) in nerve cells. Recurrent HSV-1 infections on the lip are often mild and are commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters. HSV-2 lesions tend to recur more often and to be more severe than HSV-1 infections. Herpes infections in infants and in people who have weak immune systems or herpes infections that affect the eyes are serious and potentially life-threatening. Signs and Symptoms Small grouped blisters in the infected area like the genitals (namely, penis scrotum, vagina, cervix, or labia), around the genitals (such as anus or inner thighs) mouth, lips, tongue, gums, or throat; the blisters can then become ulcers (raw sores) and later crust over Burning, itching, pain, or tingling sensations often precedes the appearance of the blisters Enlarged lymph nodes near the infected area Fever, headache, and flu-like symptoms (such as muscle aches and malaise [generally feeling bad]), particularly when you first contract the virus Vaginal or penile discharge Pain with urination Causes HSV-1 is transmitted through saliva; therefore, kissing someone with HSV-1, drinking from the same instrument, or participating in oral-genital sex with someone who has HSV-1 can cause you to contract the virus. HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted disease meaning that it is transferred from one sexual partner to another through genital secretions. Herpes simplex may be transmitted even if the infected person does not have active symptoms or visible lesions. Also, a mother can pass the infection to her baby during vaginal birth, especially if there are active lesions around the vagina at the time of delivery. Risk Factors Oral herpes Everyone is at risk for oral herpes from HSV-1, including children many of whom are already infected by age three. In fact, studies suggest that by adolescence 62% of Americans are infected with HSV-1 and by the time one is in the 40's, 90% have been infected. Syphilis occurs in several different stages: Primary Syphilis In the first stage of syphilis, red, firm, and sometimes wet sores that don't hurt appear on the vagina, rectum, penis, or mouth. There is often just one sore, but there may be several. This type of sore is called a chancre (pronounced: shang-ker). Chancres appear on the part of the body where the spirochetes moved from one person to another. Someone with syphilis may also have swollen glands during this first stage. After a few weeks, the chancre will disappear, but that's not a sign that the disease has gone away. In fact, if the infection hasn't been treated, the disease will continue to get worse. Syphilis is highly contagious during this first stage. Unfortunately, it can be easy to miss because the chancres are painless and can appear in areas that may not be easy to see, like in the mouth, under the foreskin, or on the anus. This means that people may not know that they are infected, and can pass the disease on to others without realizing it. Secondary Syphilis If syphilis hasn't been treated yet, the person will usually break out in a rash (especially on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands) and may also notice flu-like symptoms, such as fever and achiness. Sometimes the rashes associated with syphilis can be very faint or look like rashes from other infections and, therefore, may not be noticed. Sores sometimes appear on the lips, mouth, throat, vagina, and anus รข€” but many people with secondary syphilis don't have sores at all. This secondary stage usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks and will go away with or without treatment. But if the infection hasn't been treated, the disease will continue to progress. Syphilis is still contagious during the secondary stage. Latent Syphilis If syphilis still hasn't been treated yet, the person will have a period of the illness called latent (hidden) syphilis. This means that all the signs of the disease go away, but the disease is still very much there. Even though the disease is "hiding," the spirochetes are still in the body. Syphilis can remain latent for many years. Tertiary Syphilis If the disease still hasn't been treated at this point, it becomes known as tertiary (or late-stage) syphilis. This means the spirochetes have spread all over the body and can affect the brain, the heart, the spinal cord, and bones. Symptoms of late



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