HIV/AIDSandSTIs

Gotothefollowingwebsitestoanswerthefollowingquestions:
http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hcps/dcma/aidssidaeng.php
http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hcps/dcma/stiitseng.php
WhatdoesHIVandAIDSstandfor?
HIV:HumanImmunodeficiencyVirus
AIDS:AcquiredImmunodeficiencyDeficiencySyndrome
Whathappenswhenyougetthesediseases?
HIVisavirusthatattackstheimmunesystem,resultingina
chronic,progressiveillnessthatleavespeoplevulnerableto
infections.Whenthebodycannolongerfightinfection,the
diseasehasprogressedtobecomeAIDS.
HowisHIVtransmitted?
engaginginunprotectedsexualintercourse(analorvaginal)
sharingsextoysthatareusedinternally
sharingneedlesorequipmentforinjectingdrugsorsteroids
mothertochildtransmissionduringpregnancy,delivery,and
breastfeeding.
WhyisHIVsodifficulttotreatordeveloppreventionsfor?
ThereisnocurefortheHIVinfection.Treatments,knownas
antiretrovirals,onlysuppressthevirusreplicationinthebodyand
disrupttheactionofthevirus.Advancesintreatmenthavehelped
prolongthelivesandimprovethequalityoflifeofpeopleliving
withHIV/AIDS.However,antiretroviralsarenotacure.If
treatmentisdiscontinued,thevirusbecomesactiveagain.
Therefore,apersononantiretroviralsmusttakethemforlife
Whichgroupsofpeoplearemostatrisktoday?

Anyone,whodoesntuseprotectionsleepingaround,doesntknow
abouttheirpartner,peoplelivingwithHIVandAIDS,gaymen,
Aboriginalpeoples,peoplewhouseinjectiondrugs,prison
inmates,women,youthatrisk,andpeoplefromcountrieswhere
HIVisendemic.
GotooneofthereportsonAIDS.Describetwothingsinthe
reportthatyoudidnotknowbeforeaboutAIDS.
IdidntknowthatHIVcannotbetransmittedbyusingorsharing
swimmingpole,toilet,andgivingutensilsorusingwaterfountain
becauseIthoughtHIVwaslikefluthatitcanspreadaroundpeople
bycoughing,touching,andbeinginthesameroomastheperson
HIVisnotaneasyvirustotransmit.Itcanonlybepassedfrom
bodytobodythroughblood,spinalfluid,semen,preejaculate
(presemen),vaginalfluids,andbreastmilk.
GototheSTIswebsiteanddescribethesymptomsofeachof
thefollowing:
i)
Chlamydia
Womenssymptomsinclude:
vaginaldischarge
burningsensationwhenurinating
paininthelowerabdomen,sometimeswithfeverandchills
painduringsex
vaginalbleedingbetweenperiodsorafterintercourse
Menssymptomscaninclude:
dischargefromthepenis
burningsensationwhenurinating
burningoritchingattheopeningofthepenis
painand/orswellinginthetesticles

ii) Gonorrhea
Formenwhodoexperiencesymptoms,thesemayinclude:
aburningsensationwhenurinating
yellowish/whitedischargefromthepenis
burningoritchingattheopeningofthepenis
painfulorswollentesticles
Forwomen,theearlysymptomsofgonorrheaareoftenmildand
manyofthoseinfectedhavenosymptomsatall.Inothercases,
womenmaymistakethesymptomsforabladderorvaginal
infection.Forwomenwhodoexperiencesymptoms,thesecan
include:
aburningsensationwhenurinating
vaginaldischarge
paininthelowerabdomen
painduringsex
vaginalbleedingbetweenperiodsoraftersex
Womenwithmildornosymptomsarestillatriskofserious
complicationsfromtheinfection.
Inbothmenandwomen,gonorrheacaninfecttherectum.
Symptomsofrectalinfectionmayinclude:
discharge
analitching
soreness
bleeding
painfulbowelmovements
iii) Herpes(Genital)
Women'ssymptomscaninclude:
soresinsideornearthevagina,thecervix,ontheexternal
genitals,neartheanus,oronthethighsorbuttocks

tenderlumpsinthegroin(lymphadenopathy)
Men'ssymptomscaninclude:
soresonthepenis,aroundthetesticles,neartheanus,oron
thethighsorbuttocks
tenderlumpsinthegroin(lymphadenopathy)
iv) HumanPapillomavirus(HPV):
Inwomen,wartsmayappearonthevulva,thigh,anus,rectum,or
inthevaginaorurethrawiththecervixbeingacommonHPV
infectionsite.Duringpregnancy,thenumberandsizeofwartscan
increase,butusuallydecreaseafterdelivery.Withaninactive
infection,thecellsofthecervixappearnormalundera
microscopeduringaPaptestandthewomanmayneverknowshe
wasinfected.Withanactiveinfection,thecervicalcellsundergoa
change.Anactiveinfectioncanfollowoneoftwocourses:
Theabnormalcellsbecomenormalagainandtheinfectionis
inactiveorclearedfromyourbodybyyourimmunesystem.
However,itispossiblethataninactiveinfectioncanbecome
activeagain,forreasonsthataren'tclearlyunderstood.
Theabnormalcellsslowlyprogresstocervicalcancer.
Inmen,thewartsmayappearonthepenis,scrotum,thigh,
anus,rectum,orintheurethra.
v)Syphilis:
Syphilisisoftenreferredtoas"thegreatimitator"becauseofthe
widerangeofsymptomsthatinfectedpeoplemayexperience.
Thesesymptomscaneasilybeconfusedwiththoseofother
conditions.Healthcareprofessionalsmayoverlooksyphilisasa
possiblediagnosisbecausetherateofinfectioninCanadahasbeen
lowuntilrecently.
Inprimarysyphilis,apainlessopensoreorulcerappearsatthesite

wherethebacteriafirstenteredthebody,usuallythegenitalarea,
throat,oranus,andswollenglandsmaybepresentinthegroin.
Symptomscanoccurwithinafewdaysoracoupleofmonthsafter
infection.Becausetheulcerisusuallypainlessandhidden,you
maynotbeawareyouareinfected.Whilethesoremaygoawayon
itsownwithouttreatment,theinfectionwillremainandprogressto
secondarysyphilis.
Insecondarysyphilis,thesymptomscansometimesoverlapwith
thoseoftheprimarystageandvaryconsiderably.Theycan
include:
patchyhairloss
arashonthesolesofthefeet,thepalmsofthehands,or
elsewhereonthebody
fever
malaise
swollenglands
flatgrayishwhitesoresinmouthandongenitals
Howareeachoftheabovetreatedorcured?
i) Chlamydia
canbecuredwiththerighttreatment.Itisimportantthatyoutake
allofthemedicationyourdoctorprescribestocureyourinfection.
Whentakenproperlyitwillstoptheinfectionandcoulddecrease
yourchancesofhavingcomplicationslateron.Medicationfor
chlamydiashouldnotbesharedwithanyone.
Repeatinfectionwithchlamydiaiscommon.Youshouldbetested
againaboutthreemonthsafteryouaretreated,evenifyoursex
partner(s)wastreated.
ii) Gonorrhea
canbecuredwiththerighttreatment.Itisimportantthatyoutake
allofthemedicationyourdoctorprescribestocureyourinfection.
Medicationforgonorrheashouldnotbesharedwithanyone.

Althoughmedicationwillstoptheinfection,itwillnotundoany
permanentdamagecausedbythedisease.
Itisbecominghardertotreatsomegonorrhea,asdrugresistant
strainsofgonorrheaareincreasing.Ifyoursymptomscontinuefor
morethanafewdaysafterreceivingtreatment,youshouldreturn
toahealthcareprovidertobecheckedagain.
iii)
Herpes(Genital)
Thereisnocureforherpes.Antiviralmedicationscan,however,
preventorshortenoutbreaksduringtheperiodoftimetheperson
takesthemedication.Inaddition,dailysuppressivetherapy(i.e.
dailyuseofantiviralmedication)forherpescanreducethe
likelihoodoftransmissiontopartners.
Severalclinicaltrialshavetestedvaccinesagainstgenitalherpes
infection,butthereiscurrentlynocommerciallyavailablevaccine
thatisprotectiveagainstgenitalherpesinfection.Onevaccinetrial
showedefficacyamongwomenwhosepartnerswereHSV2
infected,butonlyamongwomenwhowerenotinfectedwithHSV
1.Noefficacywasobservedamongmenwhosepartnerswere
HSV2infected.Asubsequenttrialtestingthesamevaccine
showedsomeprotectionfromgenitalHSV1infection,butno
protectionfromHSV2infection.
iv)
HumanPapillomavirus(HPV)
Thereisnotreatmentforthevirusitself,buttherearetreatments
fortheproblemsthatHPVcancause:
Visiblegenitalwartsmayremainthesame,growmorenumerous,
orgoawayontheirown.Theycanberemovedbythepatientwith
medications.Theycanalsobetreatedbyahealthcareprovider.
Somepeoplechoosenottotreatwarts.Noonetreatmentisbetter
thananother.
Abnormalcervicalcells(foundonaPaptest)oftenbecome

normalovertime,buttheycansometimesturnintocancer.Ifthey
remainabnormal,thesecellscanusuallybetreatedtoprevent
cervicalcancerfromdeveloping.Thismaydependontheseverity
ofthecellchanges,thewomansageandpastmedicalhistory,and
othertestresults.Itiscriticaltofollowupwithtestingand
treatment,asrecommendedbyadoctor.
Cervicalcancerismosttreatablewhenitisdiagnosedandtreated
early.Problemsfoundcanusuallybetreated,dependingontheir
severityandonthewomansage,pastmedicalhistory,andother
testresults.Mostwomenwhogetroutinecervicalcancerscreening
andfollowupastoldbytheirprovidercanfindproblemsbefore
cancerevendevelops.Preventionisalwaysbetterthantreatment.
OtherHPVcancersarealsomoretreatablewhendiagnosedand
treatedearly.Althoughthereisnoroutinescreeningtestforthese
cancers,youshouldvisityourdoctorregularlyforcheckups.
RecurrentRespiratoryPapillomatosis(RRP),arareconditionin
whichwartsgrowinthethroat,canbetreatedwithsurgeryor
medicines.Itcansometimestakemanytreatmentsorsurgeries
overaperiodofyears.
v)Syphilis

Havingsyphilisoncedoesnotprotectyoufromgettingitagain.
Evenafteryouvebeensuccessfullytreated,youcanstillbere
infected.Onlylaboratorytestscanconfirmwhetheryouhave
syphilis.Followuptestingbyyourhealthcareprovideris
recommendedtomakesurethatyourtreatmentwassuccessful.
Becausesyphilissorescanbehiddeninthevagina,anus,underthe
foreskinofthepenis,orinthemouth,itmaynotbeobviousthata
sexpartnerhassyphilis.Unlessyouknowthatyoursexpartner(s)
hasbeentestedandtreated,youmaybeatriskofgettingsyphilis
againfromanuntreatedsexpartner.
Whataretheconsequencesofeachofthesediseases?

i)Chlamydia
Ifyoudontgetatreatment
Inwomen;chlamydiacanspreadtootherreproductive
organscausingpelvicinflammatorydisease(PID).Thiscanlead
to
longtermpelvicpain;blockedfallopiantubes;infertilityand
ectopic
pregnancy(whenthepregnancydevelopsoutsidetheuterus;
usuallyina
fallopiantube).Inwomen;chlamydiacanalsospreadtotheliver
causingpainandinflammation.Thisusuallygetsbetterwiththe
correct
antibiotictreatment.
Inmen;chlamydiacanleadtoinfectioninthetesticlesand
possiblyreducedfertility.
ii)Gonorrhea
Inuntreatedgonorrheainfections,thebacteriacanspreadupinto
thereproductivetract,ormorerarely,canspreadthroughtheblood
streamandinfectthejoints,heartvalves,orthebrain.Themost
commonresultofuntreatedgonorrheaisPID,aseriousinfection
ofthefemalereproductivetract.GonococcalPIDoftenappears
immediatelyafterthemenstrualperiod.PIDcausesscartissueto
forminthefallopiantubes.Ifthetubeispartiallyscarred,the
fertilizedeggmaynotbeabletopassintotheuterus.Ifthis
happens,theembryomayimplantinthetubecausingatubal
(ectopic)pregnancy.Thisseriouscomplicationmayresultina
miscarriageandcancausedeathofthemother.
iii)Herpes(Genital)
Whenherpesisleftuntreated,soreswillreappeareveryfewweeks.
Outbreaksthatoccurwhenyouareunderstressmaybemore

severe.Beforethesoresappear,thesurroundingareamayitchor
burn.Becauseyoucannotpredictwhenaherpesoutbreakwill
occur,itcanbecomeaninconvenience.Sorescanlastafewdays,
thenascabwillformoverandthesorewillhealwithoutleavinga
scar.
iv) HumanPapillomavirus(HPV)
OtherHPVrelatedcancersmightnothavesignsorsymptomsuntil
theyareadvancedandhardtotreat.Theseincludecancersofthe
vulva,vagina,penis,anus,andoropharynx(cancersofthebackof
thethroat,includingthebaseofthetongueandtonsils).
v)Syphilis
Ifnotdetectedandtreated,syphilismaythenprogresstothe
tertiary(late)stage,themostdestructivestageofsyphilis.During
thisstage,syphilismaycauseseriousbloodvesselandheart
problems,mentaldisorders,blindness,nervesystemproblems,and
evendeath.Itmaybeginasearlyas1yearafterinfectionoratany
timeduringtheinfectedperson'slife.Aboutonethirdofuntreated
peoplewhoareinfectedwithsyphiliswillhavethecomplications
oftertiary(late)syphilis.Anyorgansystem(suchasthecentral
nervoussystem)maybecomeinvolved.
FindaRELIABLEsourcetodescribethedifferenttypesof
hepatitis:
i)
HepA:(formerlyknownasinfectioushepatitis)isan
acuteinfectiousdiseaseofthelivercausedbythehepatitis
Avirus(HAV).Manycaseshavelittleornosymptoms
especiallyintheyoung.Thetimebetweeninfectionand
symptoms,inthosewhodevelopthem,isbetweentwo
andsixweeks.
ii)

HepB:isavirusthatinfectstheliver.Mostadultswho
getithaveitforashorttimeandthengetbetter.Thisis

calledacutehepatitisB.Sometimestheviruscausesa
longterminfection,calledchronichepatitisB.Overtime,
itcandamageyourliver.
iii)HepC:isadiseasecausedbyavirusthatinfectstheliver.In
time,itcanleadtocirrhosis,livercancer,andliverfailure.Many
peopledon'tknowthattheyhavehepatitisCuntiltheyalready
havesomeliverdamage.
Whatarethesymptomsofhepatitis?
i)
HepA:
Fatigue
Nauseaandvomiting
Abdominalpainordiscomfort,especiallyintheareaof
yourliveronyourrightsidebeneathyourlowerribs
Claycoloredbowelmovements
Lossofappetite
Lowgradefever
Darkurine
Jointpain
Yellowingoftheskinandeyes(jaundice)
ii) HepB:
Abdominalpain.
Darkurine.
Fever.
Jointpain.
Lossofappetite.
Nauseaandvomiting.
Weaknessandfatigue.
Yellowingofyourskinandthewhitesofyoureyes
(jaundice)
iii) HepC:
developingafever

 feelingtired
havingapoorappetite
nauseaorvomiting
paininyourstomach
jointormusclepain
abnormalitiesinurineorbowelmovements
ayellowinginyoureyesorskin
Describethetreatmentsorcures?
i)
HepA:TherearenotreatmentsthatwillcurehepatitisA.
Yourhealthcareprovidermaymonitoryourliverfunction
teststobesureyourbodyishealingappropriately.
ii)

HepB:Ifyouknowyou'vebeenexposedtothehepatitis
Bvirus,callyourdoctorimmediately.Ifyouhaven'tbeen
vaccinatedoraren'tsurewhetheryou'vebeenvaccinated
orwhetheryourespondedtothevaccination,receivingan
injectionofhepatitisBimmuneglobulinwithin12hours
ofcomingincontactwiththevirusmayhelpprotectyou
fromdevelopinghepatitisB.Youshouldbevaccinatedat
thesametime.

iii)HepC:IfyoudohavesymptomsofhepatitisC,thereare
treatmentsavailable.Yourdoctormayprescribemedicationsto
preventdamagetoyourliver.Bymonitoringyoursymptoms
closelyandperformingbloodtests,yourdoctorcanconfirm
whethercertaintreatmentsareworkingforyou.
IfyouarediagnosedwithchronichepatitisC,youwilllikelybe
prescribedtwodrugsatonce:ribavirinandinterferon.Not
everyonewillbenefitfromthiscombinationtreatment,according
totheCDC.

Whataretheconsequencesofeachofthethreetypesof
hepatitis?
i)
HepA:
Vaccination,particularlyiftravelingtoareasofhighHepA
activity
Practicegoodpersonalhygiene(washhandsafterusingthe
washroom,afterchangingadiaperandbeforepreparingoreating
food)
Practisesafersex
ii)HepB:
HepatitisBvaccine
Practisesafersex
Avoidsharingitemsthatmightbecontaminatedwithblood
(toothbrushes,razors,nailclippers,needles,drugsnorting
equipment)
iii)HepC:
Avoidsharingitemsthatmightbecontaminatedwithblood
(toothbrushes,razors,nailclippers,needles,drugsnorting
equipment)