and other signs may not appear or may be so slight as to be unnoticed. After these signs disappear, the germs may stay hidden for 10 to 20 years. If untreated, the disease causes mental illness, blindness, heart disease, or even death. Syphilis is not inherited, but a pregnant woman with the disease can give it to her unborn child. These babies are  born  with  congenital  syphilis.  A  baby  with congenital syphilis may be born dead or deformed. Congenital syphilis can be prevented if it is detected and treated in time. The signs of syphilis may resemble many other diseases, or the signs may be slight and be unnoticed. The disease can be detected by a blood test for syphilis. Gonorrhea If you have gonorrhea and don’t get treatment, you may become sterile. Gonorrhea can damage the sperm ducts in males and the fallopian tubes in females. In men and women, gonorrhea may result in crippling arthritis, meningitis, or heart disease. The signs of gonorrhea in males usually appear 3 to 5 days after sexual contact with an infected partner. Most men have a pus discharge from the sex organ and a painful,  burning  sensation  during  urination.  Women rarely  have  painful  symptoms  until  gonorrhea  has seriously  damaged  their  reproductive  system.  There may  be  some  vaginal  discharge  or  burning  during urination, but women will usually have no symptoms and will not know that they have gonorrhea until a sexual partner has been infected. If you have syphilis or gonorrhea, a cure is as near as your  medical  department.  But  early  treatment  is important. These diseases can be cured even in people who have had the disease for a long time, but the damage to the reproductive organs may be irreversible. NOTE Self-treatment  or  pills  from  a  friend  are extremely dangerous. Genital Herpes Infection Genital herpes is an increasingly common viral infection that produces recurrent, painful genital sores similar to cold sores that occur around the mouth. At this time, there is no known cure for genital herpes; the infected  person  may  have  recurrences  of  lesions throughout  life.  Individuals  should  avoid  sexual intercourse  when  the  sores  are  present  because  the herpes virus is infectious in this phase of the disease. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome The  Acquired  Immune  Deficiency  Syndrome (AIDS) was first reported in the United States in mid 1981. AIDS is a serious illness and a public health problem. It’s the number one priority of the U.S. Public Health Service. AIDS  is  a  serious  condition  characterized  by  a defect in natural immunity (defense) against disease. People  who  have  AIDS  are  vulnerable  to  serious illnesses that aren’t a threat to anyone whose immune system  is  functioning  normally.  These  illnesses  are referred to as “opportunistic” infections or diseases. Investigators have discovered the virus that causes AIDS. The virus is called either  human immune virus (HIV);  human T-lymphotropic virus, type III  (HTLV-3); l y m p h a d e n o p a t h y   a s s o c i a t e d   v i r u s ( L AV );  or AIDS-related virus   (ARV). Most people infected with the AIDS virus have no symptoms and feel well. Some develop symptoms that may include tiredness; fever; loss of appetite and weight; diarrhea; night sweats; and swollen glands (lymph nodes), usually in the neck, armpits, or groin. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor if the symptoms continue for more than 2 weeks AIDS is spread by sexual contact, needle sharing, or less commonly, through blood or its components. The risk of getting AIDS is increased by having multiple sexual partners, either homosexual or heterosexual, and sharing needles with people who use illicit drugs. The occurrence of the AIDS in hemophilia patients and persons  receiving  transfusions  provides  evidence  of transmission through blood. It may be transmitted from infected mother to infant before, during, or shortly after birth. 14-31 Student Notes: