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SEX AND SEXUAL HEALTH

It is you human right to enjoy good sex it is also your responsibility to practice safer sex. It is your responsibility as a parent for your children to receive good sexual education for their emotional and physical welfare.

Do you want to enjoy better sex?

Do you want to know the FACTS of Sex?

Do want to learn about HIV/AIDS and Sexually transmitted diseases and how to avoid infection?

If you want to Read Learn and Live Click below for more information.

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INFORMATION

HEALTH ISSUES - Fact Sheet

What is HIV?

HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that attacks the body’s natural defenses, restricting the body’s ability to fight infections.

What is AIDS?

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

When the body’s Immunity is severely damaged by HIV, the person becomes vulnerable to infections, which a person with a healthy immune system would normally be able to fight off.

HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED
  • Sexual contact with an infected person where there is an exchange of body fluids.
  • Sharing contaminated injecting equipment Ý Contaminated blood or blood products
  • Mother to baby transmission

HOW IT IS NOT TRANSMITTED

  • Shaking hands
  • Sharing cups, cutlery, plates utensils, toilets
  • Coughing, sneezing, hugging, crying.
  • Using swimming pools, public toilets
  • Insect bites

WHAT IS THE HIV TEST

HIV Antibody test is carried out to determine whether some one has the HIV virus in their body.

Antibodies are created by the infected person’s immune system in response to the presence of HIV.

If you require information about HIV testing or advice on HIV & sexual health issues contact the nearest Sexual health or Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic. Services are free and confidential.

HIV treatments

Anti ­ HIV drugs ­ Are used to reduce the level of virus in the blood. Combination therapy ­ Combination of two or more anti ­HIV drugs are taken to slow down the damage to the immune system.

Other drugs are given to treat opportunistic infections.

 

 

Sexually transmitted infections:

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a bacteria infection that is sexually transmitted and may infect the cervix, urethra, rectum anus and throat. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, lower abdominal pain and backache in women and can be passed on to babies as gonoccocal eye infection. In men gonorrhea can cause inflammation of the testicles and the prostate glands, narrowing of the urethra or abscesses.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection, which infects the cervix in women, and can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility, or increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, or premature birth if left untreated. Infection can be passed on to babies leading to an eye or lung infection. In men the infection may lead to inflammation of testicles or cause infertility.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is sexually transmitted and may be passed from an infected mother to her unborn child.

For more information on HIV & Sexually transmitted infections read:

AVERT - www.avert.org.uk

Public health laboratory services ­ www.phls.co.uk

OTHER INFECTIONS

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis is an infection that is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB infection can spread easily among people who live in overcrowded environments, with limited access to health care.

Symptoms of active TB include a persistent cough that produces thick, cloudy, sometimes bloody mucus from the lungs, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats and fever. If left untreated active TB can damage the lungs and other organs and cause death.

TB treatment

Antibiotics are used in combination to treat active TB. It is important to complete your treatment to prevent the spread of drug resistant TB infection.

For further information and advice on treatment contact your general practitioner (GP) or local eye, throat and chest clinic.

Pneumocystis Cariini

Pneumocystis Cariini is one of the most frequent infections in people whose immune system has been severely damaged by HIV. It causes pulmonary infection Pneumocystis cariini pneumonia (PCP). Symptoms include acute fever, non-productive cough, and dyspnea.

Cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus is one of the opportunistic infections that affect people living with HIV/AIDS. It can cause pneumonia in the lungs, brain disease, gastrointestinal truck disease, retinitis and blindness in a person with AIDS.

Cryptococcus neoformans Usually presents as meningitis. It is found in bird droppings and acquired mainly through inhalation. Symptoms include fever, nausea and headaches.

Meningitis

Different germs including bacteria, virus and fungi can cause meningitis. Viral meningitis:

Viral meningitis is the most common infection in children & young adults. HIV can cause meningitis and this can be passed from and infected person to another person through blood or sexual contact. Herpes viruses can also be a source of meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis:

Bacterial can cause meningitis if it enters the blood stream and reaches the cerebral spinal fluid or tissue meninges that are found around the spinal cord. This infection can be transmitted from one person to another through saliva or mucous.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis gondii is a protozoa parasite that may causes infection in the brain. The infection can spread to other parts of the body.

Herpes Simplex

Herpes simplex infection in AIDS patients usually occurs in the gastrointestinal track, esophagus and the pereanal region.

Herpes Zoster is an Infection of the skin that can occur before the onset of clinical AIDS.

Kaposi’s sarcoma

Is a type of cancer that may start in one place but can spread to other parts of the body. It affects the skin, lymph nodes, lungs and digestive system. Symptoms include small flat lesions or lumps that are brown, brown red or reddish purple in colour. Kaposi’s sarcoma may affect lymph nodes causing s

welling of the limbs (lympoedema) and disruption in lymph fluid circulation. Hepatitis

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis A virus.(HAV)

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). It causes liver failure and death.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is found in the blood of the infected person and can be spread through contaminated blood.

For further information and advice on treatment of any of the above infections contact your general practitioner (GP) or Genito Urinary Medicine clinic (GUM) or Sexual health Clinic.

If you would like sexual education information or how to avoid contracting HIV and Sexually transmitted diseases please click here.