Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

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); lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV); 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: