How
is genital herpes diagnosed?
The signs and symptoms associated
with HSV-2 can vary greatly. Health care providers can diagnose genital herpes
by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the
sore(s). HSV infection can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks. Blood tests
which detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection may be helpful, although the results are
not always clear.
Is
there a cure for genital herpes?
No. Antiviral medications can
shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication.
How
can people protect themselves against infection?
The consistent
and correct use of latex or polyurethane condoms can help protect against infection.
However, condoms do not provide complete protection because the condom may not
cover the herpes sore(s), and viral shedding may nevertheless occur. If either
you or your partner have genital herpes, it is best to abstain from sex when symptoms
or signs are present, and to use latex or polyurethane condoms between outbreaks.
What
are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are small, sexually transmitted
growths that appear on, around or inside the sex organs of both men and women.
They are spread from person to person by close physical contact during vaginal,
anal, or oral sex.
What
do they look like?
Some genital warts are flat while some are
round bumps that look like tiny cauliflowers. They are usually painless, but they
can itch or burn, especially if they grow larger or spread. On men, most genital
warts appear on the outside of the penis. In women, they are found on or around
the vulva (the lips and opening of the vagina), inside the vagina and on the cervix
(the opening to the uterus). Men and women can also have genital warts in the
throat or anus.
What
causes genital warts?
A virus called the Human Papilloma Virus,
or HPV. This virus is contagious, which makes it very easy to spread during sexual
contact. HPV sometimes remains in the body after warts go away or are removed.
As a result, a person can have the wart virus without knowing it and pass HPV
to someone else during sexual activity.
Are
genital warts dangerous?
Most people who have HPV never have symptoms
or other problems, but others do. There are several types of HPV. Of these types,
some are high risk and some are low risk: High-risk types of HPV don't cause genital
warts. These HPV infections usually don't have symptoms. They are linked to an
increased risk of cervical cancer in women. In women, they are often detected
during annual Pap tests. Low-risk types of HPV can cause genital warts. These
types are generally not associated with cancer.
How
can someone find out if they have genital warts?
Get checked by
a health care provider. Sometimes you can see the warts or be able to feel the
warts that are too small to see. Warts inside the vagina can only be found if
a health care provider examines a woman's reproductive organs and does a Pap test.
An abnormal Pap test could mean you have an HPV infection of the cervix. If you
know you have HPV, do not use wart removal remedies sold in stores. They will
not work on genital warts and may, in fact, be harmful to reproductive organs.
Inform your partner(s) if you have HPV so they can be examined and/or treated,
too. Also, tell your health care provider if you are pregnant and think you might
have genital warts. For testing, contact Women's Health Services at 243-1413 or
800-664-1413.
How
are genital warts treated?
A health care provider must help each
individual on the best treatment plan. Treatment depends on how many warts are
present, how big they are and if they are inside or outside the body. Whatever
treatment is chosen it's important to note that warts can come back since the
virus, HPV, can remain in the body. No treatment: If untreated, warts may go away,
remain unchanged, or grow and spread; Topical medication: Some warts can be painted
with a medicine that will make them fall off after a few days or weeks. Some of
these medicines are not safe for pregnant women; Other topical treatments: Warts
may be frozen or burned off; Injections: Some warts can be treated with shots;
Surgery: Some warts will need to be surgically removed.
How
do I protect against HPV?
Not having sex is the best protection
against genital warts and other STD. Unfortunately, because many people have HPV
and don't know it, it's not easy to determine who has HPV. Additional ways of
protecting oneself include:
Take a look! You may be able to see warts if you examine your partner before you
have sex. This won't always work as warts can be too small to see or they could
be inside the body. Also, you partner could have the virus in his/her body, but
not have warts.
Use latex or polyurethane condoms! Use condoms with a water-based lubricant every
time you have sex. Condoms will help protect from STD including genital warts
if the warts are covered by the condom.
Get
tested! Every time you have a health exam, get checked for genital warts and other
STD. Get an STD check any time you are concerned about risk, even if you don't
have symptoms.
Abstain
from sexual activity! Do not have sex with a person you think may have an STD.
Do not use drugs
or alcohol! Never mix drugs or alcohol with a sexual or potentially sexual situation.
If you're high, you might forget to protect yourself with a condom.
What
is Hepatits B?
Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus
that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called HBV (Hepatitis B virus), can
cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver
failure and death.
The
positive aspect of Hepatitis B is a vaccination available for all age groups to
prevent infection of this disease. In fact, the Hepatitis B vaccination is commonly
a part of a child's immunization protocol.
Like
Hepatits C, HBV disproportionately affects people of color. An estimated 73,000
new HBV infections occurred in 2000. Most infections occurred in young adults,
aged 20-39 years. As stressed earlier, Hepatitis B can be prevented through immunization.
In 1999, an estimated 80,000 persons in the U.S. were infected with HBV. People
of all ages get Hepatitis B and about 5,000 die per year of sickness caused by
HBV.
How
great is your risk for Hepatits B?
One out of 20 people in the
U.S. become infected with HBV some time during their lives. Your risk is higher
if you:
have sex with someone infected with HBV
have
sex with more than one partner
are
a man and have sex with a man; live in the same house with someone who has lifelong
HBV infection
have
a job that involves contact with human blood are an intravenous drug user
are
a patient or work in a home for the developmentally disabled
have
hemophilia
travel
to areas where Hepatitis B is common
How
do you get Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is not spread through food
or water or by casual contact. You get HBV by direct contact with the blood or
body fluids of an infected person. For example, you can become infected by having
sex or sharing needles with an infected person. A baby can get Hepatitis B from
an infected mother during childbirth.
High-risk
sexual behaviors, such as having unprotected sex with multiple partners, and injection
drug use are the major risk factors associated with the spreading of HBV. About
5 percent of people in the United States have evidence of past infection with
HBV and about 1.25 million people have chronic HBV infection.
"Hepatitis
B carriers" are people who are infected with HBV and never fully recover from
the infection; they carry the virus and can infect others for the rest of their
lives. In the U.S., about 1 million people carry HBV.
How
do you know if you have Hepatitis B?
You many have HBV (and be
spreading the disease) and not know it; sometimes a person with HBV infection
has no symptoms at all. Only a blood test can tell for sure.
If you have symptoms,
they may include:
yellow
eyes or skin, loss of appetite
nausea, vomitting,
fever
stomach
or joint ache
extreme
fatigue; unable to work for weeks or months
Is
there a cure for Hepatitis B?
Like other viral STD, there are medications
available to treat long-lasting HBV-infection (those who are termed "carriers").
Such medications work for some people, but there is no cure for Hepatitis B. That
is why prevention is so important. The HBV vaccine is the best protection against
this disease. Three doses are commonly needed for complete protection.
What
is Hepatitis C?
Like Hepatitis B, C is a serious disease caused
by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called HCV (Hepatitis C
virus), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver
cancer, liver failure and death. This virus is also the leading indication for
liver transplant. Each year, 8,000-10,000 people die from complications of liver
disease caused by Hepatitis C.
How
do you get Hepatitis C & who is at risk?
HCV occurs when blood,
semen or vaginal fluid from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected
person. Injection drug use is the major risk factor for HCV infection and those
who participate in injection drug use are at high risk for contracting HCV. This
virus is not spread by sneezing, hugging, coughing or other casual contact such
as sharing food, water, eating utensils or drinking glasses.
What
are the signs and symptoms of HCV infection?
In 80% of infections,
there are no symptoms. Of the minority who will show symptoms, those can include
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes), fatigue, dark urine, abdominal pain,
loss of appetite and nausea. Because symptoms are so frequently mild or nonexistent,
the majority of people with chronic HCV infections do not know they are infected
and can unknowingly transmit the virus to others. For many, signs and symptoms
appear only when liver disease is advanced and treatments are less effective.
Is
there a cure for Hepatitis C?
There is neither a cure nor a vaccine
for Hepatitis C.
If you get pregnant, should you worry about HCV?
It is possible for an infected mother to transmit the virus to her child during
the delivery process if her blood was to enter the baby's body. This occurs in
about 5 in every 100 births and there is no treatment to keep it from happening.
Most infants infected with HCV at birth have no symptoms and do well during childhood.
More studies are needed to tract their health as such children mature.
Resources
The
Center for Disease Control
Hotline: 919-361-8488
National
Herpes Resource Center
http://www.ashastd.org/hrc
Hotline: 1-800-227-8922
Support
Group — see website
National
HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention
Resource Center
http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv
overview.cfm
Hotline:
1-800-227-8922
STI
Message Board:
http://www.ashastd.org/phpbb/index.php
