HIV/AIDSandSTIs

1.Gotothefollowingwebsitestoanswerthefollowingquestions:
http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hcps/dcma/aidssidaeng.php
http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hcps/dcma/stiitseng.php
WhatdoesHIVandAIDSstandfor?
HIV: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Whathappenswhenyougetthesediseases?
HIV attacks the immune system, resulting in a chronic,
progressive illness that leaves infected people vulnerable to
opportunistic infections and cancers.

HowisHIVtransmitted?
1.Engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal)
2.Sharing sex toys
3.Sharing needles or equipment for injecting drugs or steroids
4.Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, delivery, and
breast-feeding

WhyisHIVsodifficulttotreatordeveloppreventionsfor?

There is no cure for the HIV infection.

Like all medications, HIV drugs can cause side effects. Some
drug treatments for HIV also fail because some new strains of
the virus have developed drug resistance.

Whichgroupsofpeoplearemostatrisktoday?
Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be the group
most affected by HIV/AIDS in Canada.

GotooneofthereportsonAIDS.Describetwothingsinthe
reportthatyoudidnotknowbeforeaboutAIDS.
Therearelotsofhotlinesforusifwehaveanyquestionand
worryaboutAIDS.

4.GototheSTIswebsiteanddescribethesymptomsofeachof
thefollowing:
i)Chlamydia
Symptoms of infection for women can include:

vaginal discharge
burning sensation when urinating
pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes with fever and chills
pain during sex
vaginal bleeding between periods or after intercourse

Symptoms for men can include:

discharge from the penis

burning sensation when urinating
burning or itching at the opening of the penis
pain and/or swelling in the testicles

ii)Gonorrhea

For men who do experience symptoms, these may include:

a burning sensation when urinating

yellowish/white discharge from the penis
burning or itching at the opening of the penis
painful or swollen testicles

For women who do experience symptoms, these can include:

a burning sensation when urinating
vaginal discharge
pain in the lower abdomen
pain during sex
vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex
Women with mild or no symptoms are still at risk of serious
complications from the infection.
In both men and women, gonorrhea can infect the rectum. Symptoms
of rectal infection may include:

discharge
anal itching
soreness
bleeding

painful bowel movements

iii)Herpes(Genital)
Women's symptoms can include:
sores inside or near the vagina, the cervix, on the external genitals,
near the anus, or on the thighs or buttocks
tender lumps in the groin (lymphadenopathy)
Men's symptoms can include:
sores on the penis, around the testicles, near the anus, or on the
thighs or buttocks
tender lumps in the groin (lymphadenopathy)

For both men and women, the sores will usually occur on or near the
area where the virus was transmitted.

iv)HumanPapillomavirus(HPV)
In women, warts may appear on the vulva, thigh, anus, rectum, or

in the vagina or urethra with the cervix being a common HPV infection
site. During pregnancy, the number and size of warts can increase, but
usually decrease after delivery. With an inactive infection, the cells of
the cervix appear normal under a microscope during a Pap test and
the woman may never know she was infected. With an active infection,
the cervical cells undergo a change. An active infection can follow one
of two courses:
The abnormal cells become normal again and the infection is inactive
or cleared from your body by your immune system. However, it
is possible that an inactive infection can become active again, for
reasons that aren't clearly understood.
The abnormal cells slowly progress to cervical cancer.
In men, the warts may appear on the penis, scrotum, thigh, anus,
rectum, or in the urethra.

v)Syphilis

patchy hair loss

a rash on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, or elsewhere
on the body
fever
malaise
swollen glands
flat grayish-white sores in mouth and on genitals

5.Howareeachoftheabovetreatedorcured?
i)Chlamydia
ii)Gonorrhea
iii)Herpes(Genital)
iv)HumanPapillomavirus(HPV)
v)Syphilis
6.Whataretheconsequencesofeachofthesediseases?
i)Chlamydia
For up to 40 percent of infected women, untreated chlamydia can lead
to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID effects include abdominal
pain, fever, internal abscesses and long-lasting pelvic pain; effects also
include scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility and
increase the chance of potentially life-threatening ectopic or tubal
pregnancies.
Men can develop scarring of the urethra, making urination difficult and
occasionally causing infertility. Although rare, both sexes are at risk of
a type of arthritis known as Reiter's Syndrome that causes
inflammation and swelling of the joints.
If a pregnant woman has chlamydia, her baby may be born
prematurely, have eye infections or develop pneumonia.

ii)Gonorrhea
In women, untreated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID). PID health risks include abdominal pain, fever, internal
abscesses, long-lasting pelvic pain, and scarring of the fallopian tubes
causing infertility and increasing the chance of ectopic or tubal
pregnancies.
Men can develop epididymitis, a painful inflammation in the tubes
attached to the testicles. If left untreated, it can on rare occasions lead
to infertility.

iii)Herpes(Genital)
Pain and discomfort are the main health effects of genital herpes, but
the virus can also cause emotional and social problems for those
infected. Although it cannot be cured, genital herpes can be managed
with antiviral medication that may help control the recurrences. On

rare occasions, genital herpes may cause serious complications such

as blindness and inflammation of the brain.
Genital herpes can sometimes be passed from an infected mother to
her child during pregnancy or birth. The infection can be lifethreatening to the child or result in skin lesions or brain damage.
Antiviral medication and a cesarean delivery can reduce the risk of
infecting the child.