HIV, AIDS and STIs
What is AIDS?
AIDS is an acronym that means Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome
A Acquired |
I Immune |
D Deficiency |
S Syndrome |
|---|---|---|---|
| because it's a condition one must acquire or get infected with, not something transmitted through the genes. | because it affects the body's immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses. | because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly). | because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections. |
What is HIV?
HIV is an acronym that means Human Immunodeficiency Virus
H Human |
I Immunodeficiency |
V Virus |
|---|---|---|
| because this virus can only infect human beings. | because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body's immune system. | because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell. |
What is HIV Disease?
At this point, if someone is sick due to HIV, but their illness is not included on the "AIDS list," they may simply be considered to have "HIV disease."
It is widely accepted in the medical and scientific research community that HIV infection is linked to immune system malfunction and ultimately results in the condition known as AIDS.
What is AIDS?
AIDS is the result of a weakened immune system caused by HIV infection. AIDS is diagnosed when a person tests positive for HIV and also has one or more of the "opportunistic infections" of AIDS (there are 27) and/or has a laboratory marker test of 200 or fewer T-cells. AIDS should be diagnosed by a physician. The opportunistic infections associated with AIDS are called "AIDS-defining illnesses" and should also be diagnosed by a physician.
Both HIV infection and AIDS are considered to be chronic illnesses managed with both pharmaceutical (pharmacy drugs) therapies and complementary (alternative) therapies. In most cases, people can live for many years with HIV infection and with AIDS.
It is usually impossible to know just how long a person will live with AIDS. Today's HIV therapies are extending the lives of persons living with HIV and AIDS as well as helping to improve their quality of life.
What are STIs?
STIs is an acronym that means Sexually Transmitted Infections
STIs are also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They are infections that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 15 million cases of sexually transmitted disease cases reported annually in the United States. Adolescents and young adults (15-24) are the age groups at the greatest risk for acquiring an STI, with 3 million becoming infected each year.
How can their spread be prevented?
STIs can be transmitted during any type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual toys or devices, such as vibrators. Some STIs are infections that are transmitted by persistent and close skin-to-skin contact, including during sexual intimacy. Although treatment exists for many STIs, others currently are usually incurable, such as HIV, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HHV-8.
HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. This is a very common sexually transmitted virus. An estimated 75 percent of the reproductive-age population has been infected with sexually transmitted HPV. A small fraction of men and women with HPV will develop genital warts. HHV-8, also known as Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus, is a gammaherpesvirus found only in humans
Many STIs can be present in and be spread by persons who do not have symptoms. The most effective way to prevent the spread of STIs is abstinence. Alternatively, the diligent use of latex barriers, such as condoms, during vaginal or anal intercourse and oral-genital contact protects against the spread of many of these infections. Still, there is no guarantee that transmission will not occur. In fact, preventing the spread of STIs also depends upon appropriate counseling of sexually active (at-risk) individuals and the early diagnosis and treatment of those infected.
Overview
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a disease caused by a pathogen (e.g., virus, bacterium, parasite, fungus) that is spread from person to person primarily through sexual contact. STIs can be painful, irritating, debilitating, and life threatening.
Incidence and Prevalence
STIs occur most commonly in sexually active teenagers and young adults, especially those with multiple sex partners. An estimated 200 to 400 million people worldwide are infected—representing men and women of all economic classes.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in the United States more than 13 million people are infected each year and more than 65 million have an incurable STI. Generally, STI incidence has declined in the United States over the past 15 years, although rates among certain populations, including men who have sex with men, have increased.
Characteristics
Most STIs cause relatively harmless disease, producing few or no symptoms. However, some produce persistent asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic disease (e.g., Chlamydia). Some people carry the disease for days or weeks, while others carry the disease for longer periods, even for life. During this time, an infected individual can spread the infection.
In persistent infection, the pathogen evades detection by the immune system and remains fairly inactive, causing no overt disease. This inactivity is called latency. However, certain triggers (e.g., stress, immune suppression, injury) can reactivate latent pathogens. In some cases, reactivated disease is asymptomatic (e.g., Chlamydia); in others, overt (e.g., genital herpes); and in still others, severe and even fatal (e.g., HIV/AIDS).
Complications of STI infection include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis) in women, inflammation of the urethra (Urethritis) and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) in men, and fertility and reproductive system problems in both sexes.
Possible consequences to an infant infected while in the womb or during birth, include stillbirth, blindness, and permanent neurological damage.
A person infected with an STI is more likely to become infected with HIV, and a person infected with HIV and another STI is more likely to transmit HIV.
STI Treatment
Viral STIs, such as genital herpes (HSV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed with medication. Bacterial STIs, such as Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia, can be cured with antibiotics. Fungal (e.g., vaginal yeast infection) and parasitic (e.g., trichomoniasis) diseases can be cured with antifungal and antihelminthic agents, respectively. Early diagnosis and treatment increase the chances for cure.
STI Prevention
The only sure way to avoid becoming infected with an STI is monogamy with an uninfected partner. It is important for partners to discuss their sexual and STI history before having sex.
Prevention is possible only if sexually active individuals understand STIs and how they are spread. The risk for transmission is dramatically reduced with the use of condoms. The following behaviours and conditions can increase the risk for STIs:
- Engaging in sexual activity when either partner has unhealed lesions (e.g., genital herpes sores, genital warts).
- Enema or rectal douching before rectal intercourse.
- Rectal or vaginal irritation or infection.
- Sexual activity that may damage the mucosal lining of the vagina or rectum.
- Tampon use (Tampons can cause vaginal dryness and cellular abnormalities. Sanitary napkins, either disposable or washable cotton pads, are recommended.)
- Vaginal dryness (Water-based lubricant is recommended.)
- If you suspect you have an STI, see your physician immediately.
