|
HIV and AIDS
Anyone who has sex can catch a sexually transmitted infection, not just
people who sleep around. It doesn't matter if it's your first time.
Several std are very common.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a virus that damages the body's immune
system so the body becomes less able to fight off disease. The longer
a person has HIV the more damaged the immune system is likely to become.
Once the immune system is so badly damaged it cannot fight off serious
illness the condition is called AIDS. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS.
There is no vaccination against HIV/AIDS.
If you become infected with HIV you can pass it on to other people.
A person infected with HIV is infected for life. You cannot tell by
looking at someone if they have the virus. They may not even know themselves.
This is because HIV usually has no symptoms at all.
But it is possible to live a very healthy life for ten or even 20 years
after you are infected. During this time a person with HIV may be able
to do all the things a person without the virus can do. But eventually
the virus will become AIDS and the person will become ill.
How do people become infected with HIV?
- Sex
By having sexual intercourse with someone who has the virus.
14 million people in the world have HIV. Most of these people
caught it through heterosexual (straight) sexual intercourse.
- Sharing Needles
By injecting drugs using a needle or syringe that has already been
used by a person with the virus.
- Mother to child
It is possible for a mother who has the virus to pass it on to
her newborn child. But not all mothers with HIV pass the virus on
to their children. On average about one in every five babies born
to HIV positive mothers in the UK are infected.
HIV can be carried in:
- a man's semen
- a woman's vaginal fluid or blood
- a woman's breast milk
If you receive donated blood in the UK there is almost no risk of infection.
Since 1985 all donated blood in the UK has been tested for HIV.
Although it is possible that HIV can be passed through blood in an accident,
it is far more likely that it will be passed on during sexual intercourse.
What about oral sex?
It is possible to catch HIV if you have oral sex with an infected person
(oral sex is licking or sucking your partner's penis or vagina) especially
if you or your partner has a cut in your mouth, tongue, penis or vagina,
but oral sex is much safer than sexual intercourse.
You cannot become infected by:
- kissing someone who is infected
- touching or hugging someone who is infected
- using a swimming pool with someone who is infected
- sharing a toothbrush with someone who is infected
- using the same toilet as someone who is infected
People with HIV are not victims. They should be treated just like anyone
else. Remember, the only way you can protect yourself against HIV is
to use a condom during intercourse or to abstain from sex altogether.
Your partner may have the virus and not know it. Your partner may have
the virus and not have told you.
Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases
You’ve heard about Sexually Transmitted Diseases and learnt
about Fungal Infections but most people hardly think about Thrush as
a common fungal infection, in fact, it's the most common fungal infection
around!
Thrush
Thrush is an overgrowth of a yeast (fungus) called "candida".
This can usually be found on the skin, in the stomach, colon, rectum,
and more commonly in the mouth and throat, or in and around the vagina.
Sounds nasty but it isn’t that bad as it is very common and can
be picked up easily.
The important thing to remember is too STAY CALM. It may not actually
need treatment if it is causing no symptoms. However it is better to
check it out than leave it and it will definitely need treatment if
it is itchy, there is a rash and/or discharge. A GP we spoke to, said
that the majority of doctor's won't examine but will prescribe the treatment
you need, to get rid of it (described below). However, on rare occasions
yeast can also grow in the blood and cause a very serious infection.
As the main types of thrush occur in the mouth and throat and around
the vagina, here are the facts about these areas.
Oral Thrush - The Symptoms
In the mouth, thrush looks like creamy white patches or small red spots
on the tongue, roof of the mouth, gums or throat. Crusting on the corners
of the mouth is also a common symptom. Oral thrush can make it difficult
or painful to swallow and can also cause chest pain. It can cause nausea
and make your food taste different.
How Can Oral Thrush Be Diagnosed?
If you notice some changes to your mouth which leave it feeling uncomfortable
or sore, the best thing to do is to visit your doctor. You doctor can
usually tell if you have oral thrush by checking your mouth and throat.
Once again, there is absolutely no need to feel embarrassed, as thrush
is the most common infection to have.
Can Oral Thrush Be Treated?
For thrush in the mouth, your doctor will probably give you a liquid
medication or a tablet to dissolve in your mouth. Unfortunately, you
will have to take a visit to your doctor to receive this medication,
as it is not available at the chemists. This is only because it is not
as common as vaginal thrush which girls can suffer from!
Some changes to your diet will also avoid the thrush to return to your
mouth. It may help to cut down on dairy products and foods with sugar
and yeast. Some people have found that eating large amounts of garlic
or taking garlic pills helps your mouth…but not your breath!
Chlamydia
If untreated this infection may cause infertility in men and women.
Although some men have symptoms most women will have none so most women
who have chlamydia will not realise they are infected unless they are
tested. Chlamydia is extremely common in young people. One in ten young
women has chlamydia (source: Safe 'n' Sorted - Lothian Health Promotion,
1999). But chlamydia is easily treated using a course of antibiotics.
Symptoms:
- pain when peeing
- unpleasant discharge from penis or vagina
Gonorrhoea
- in men: can cause pain and swelling in scrotum and infertility
- in women: can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Symptoms and treatment
- same as for Chlamydia
Hepatitis B
- is very infectious, much more so than HIV
- is found in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, saliva and
urine
- symptoms: yellow skin and eyes, pain in upper abdomen, joints of
hands and feet can become swollen
Some people are carriers, may display no symptoms and be unaware they
are infected. Many people clear the virus from their body before they
become ill. Most recover completely. But some people have the virus
for life.
Pubic Lice (Crabs)
- lice attracted by warmth and damp of pubic hair
- can be passed on by sharing a bed, a towel, or a pair of pants with
someone who has them as well as by sexual contact
- easily treated with special shampoo available from the chemist
- condoms offer no protection from pubic lice
Genital Warts
- found on or inside genitalia or round the anus
- sometimes they may be small and difficult to see
- easily treated with wart paint, laser surgery or frozen
- sometimes reappear but re-treatment should be effective
Herpes
- Type 1: causes cold sores round the mouth and is extremely
common
- is not usually sexually transmitted but can be spread during oral
sex, even when no cold sores are present
- Type 2: causes cold sores on genitals
- sometimes no symptoms for years after infection
- can be spread from genitals to eyes on fingers
- no cure but treatment (the drug Zovirax) is very effective
- some sores may reoccur but should eventually disappear with repeated
treatment
Remember, most std are easily treated.
General symptoms of std:
Sores or warts on or around penis or vagina; pain when urinating; unpleasant-smelling
discharge. But some std have no symptoms.
The GU (Genito-Unirary) clinic at your local hospital provides:
- information and counselling
- emergency contraception
- testing for all std
It offers a completely confidential service
- you may give a false name
- if you do give your real name no records will be kept that show
you have visited the clinic
GU clinic doctors see and reassure thousands of young people every
year. If you have had unprotected sex or have any doubts at all, pay
them a visit. Sometimes it helps to take a friend. Most STIs are easily
treated but you won't get treated unless you know you're infected.
The Brooke Advisory Centre
- offers free advice and counselling to young people under the age
of 25 on contraception, pregnancy and abortion
- completely confidential
 |
