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FACTS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT STIs AND HIV/ADIS

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

STIs are infections that are spread from one person to another through sexual contact. If left untreated, STIs can easily infertility, chronic pain, sickness or death. Examples of STIs are gonorrhea, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Herpes and HIV/AIDS.

How they spread:

Through sexual intercourse with an infected person, through kissing an infected person (oral herpes only)

Signs And Symptoms Of Common STIs

Gonorrhea: in men (2-8 days after contact) itching and difficulty and painful urination and discharge from the penis. Most women have no symptoms but some could have burning urination or vaginal discharge. If left untreated, arthritis, infertility, heart disease, blindness brain damage or death may occur. Women may infect their babies during childbirth.

Syphillis: in men and women (10-90 days after contact) a sore, sometime painful on the sex organ or mouth. Mouth later low fever, sore throat or rashes. If left untreated, paralysis, heart disease, blindness, infertility brain damage or death can occur. Women childbirth.

Chlamydia:  Resembles mild Gonorrhea and sometimes appears with Gonorrhea. Women may have no signs or symptoms. If left untreated, pelvic inflammatory Disease.

In general, painful or frequent urination, painful testes, yellowish or whitish offensive discharge from the virginal/penis, genital sore, swollen pelvic glands, genital itching fever and weakness may be symptoms of various STIs.

Treatment:

Visit the nearest health clinic for diagnosis and treatment as soon as you notice symptom. Do not attempt to treat yourself. Inform and advise all your sexual partners to have examination and treatment. Take the full course of prescribed drugs. Avoid sex until the Doctor confirms that you are cured. If you must have sex during treatment use a condom so that others may not be infected.   

Prevention:

Keep to one faithful partner. Use a condom if you must engage in casual sex. Maintain personal hygiene.

HIV/AIDS

AIDs – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a deadly incurable disease caused by the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). This virus destroys the body’s own ability (antibodies) to fight infections. Hence, the infected person will eventually die. AIDS is a world-wide health problem (disease).

HIV/AIDS is spread through:

Vaginal, oral or anal sexual intercourse with someone who is infected with HIV

·        Use of unsterilized needles, blades and knives which have been used on or by an infected person

·        Sharing of needles and syringes with HIV infected persons.

·        Transfusion of HIV infected blood

·        An infected mother to her unborn baby

·        Breast feeding by an infected mother

HIV/AIDS IS NOT SPREAD THROUGH:

·        Hugging,

·        Handshake and caring.

·        Sharing toilets, Classrooms, office and bedrooms,

·        Sharing eating utensils such as spoons, forks, cups

·        Eating with infected persons

·        Mosquitoes’ bites,

·        Near someone who has HIV/AIDS.

·        Coughing and sneezing

WHO CAN GET HIV/AIDS

Any body can get HIV/AIDS. Rich or Poor Old or young (including babies in the womb). White or black Race.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AIDS

·        Fever on and off for more than one month

·        Diarrhea for more than one month

·        Sudden unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of body weight.

·        Dark and hard skin lumps (a symptom of skin cancer)

·        General tiredness

·        Oral candidiasis or white spots in the mouth

·        Enlarged painless glands in the neck or armpits

·        Night sweats

·        Prolonged cough

·        Skin infection and rashes

·        Loss of memory

·        Tuberculosis of the lungs

·        Pneumonia

NOTE: A person infected with HIV may have no signs or symptoms for months or years but carries and passes the virus to other without knowing it.

SAFER SEX

How to Prevent HIV/AIDS

·        Maintain Sexual relationship with faithful partner

·        Avoid having anal or oral sex

·        Always use a condom, if you must have casual sex

·        Avoid use of unsterilized injection needle, surgical and skin-piercing instruments

·        Avoid patronizing health providers for injections, tattooing, scarification and circumcision with unsterilized instruments

How to detect HIV/AIDS

Go to the nearest HIV screening clinic if you notice any of the above signs. These can be signs of other diseases also.

What you should do if someone you know has HIV/AIDS

·        You should treat him like person who is sick and needs your love and understanding.

·        You should treat him the way you want others to treat you if were sick

·        You should not be scared of an HIV infected person because you already know that casual contact can not give you HIV/AIDS.