Happy Holidays!!!

Greetings from: Edge Four, Red Warrior and Dra. Magayanes

World AIDS Day 2013 - Get yourself involved

"If you judge people you have no time to love them" - Mother Teresa

Fight the Disease and not the sufferer!
Be Educated, Be Aware and Be Responsible...

You can BE a volunteer on your way by spreading good information and not by harming anyone.

#WorldAIDSDay
#01Dec2013

VIRAL HEPATITIS

VIRAL HEPATITIS:
     Inflammation or swelling of the liver due to viral infection. It can lead to scarring, called Cirrhosis, liver failure or to liver cancer. Several different viruses, named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.


CAUSES:
     
    Hepatitis A:
          Caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), a picornavirus. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage.

     Hepatitis B:
         Caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), a hepadnavirus that can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis.

     Hepatitis C:
         Caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV), an RNA virus that is a member of the Flaviviridae family.

     Hepatitis D:
          Caused by hepatitis D virus (HDV) or Hepatitis Delta Virus. It can propagate only in the presence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

     Hepatitis E:
          Caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), from the Hepeviridae family, produces symptoms similar to HAV.
   

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact (including oral, vaginal and anal sex for both men and women)
• Unhygienic tattooing
• Bodily fluids including, saliva, semen, urine, vaginal fluids
• Contaminated food and water
• Injecting drug users
• Blood transfusions
• Mother to child transmission during pregnancy and at birth  

 SYMPTOMS:

• jaundice, which causes a yellowing of the skin and eyes
• fatigue
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• low grade fever
• headache 

*However, some people do not have symptoms    

PREVENTION:
    
     Viral Hepatitis is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
     Practicing clean and safe environment to avoid food and water contamination.
     Avoid using used needles, razors and toothbrushes by other person.
     
      
Treatment:
    
     Examination is important if infected with any viral Hepatitis.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of viral Hepatitis
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddieases/pubs/viralhepatitis

SYPHILIS

SYPHILIS:
     
      A sexually transmitted infection often called the "Great Imitator" by Sir William Osler because Syphilis symptoms resemble those of other common diseases. It has also been called as "Miss Siff" and "The Pox". It can be easily treated on early stage. It is present in 4 different stages: Primary, Secondary, Latent and Tertiary but it may also occur congenitally during pregnancy and at birth. 

CAUSES:
     
     Syphilis is caused by the spirochete bacteruim Treponema pallidum. Treponema pallidum causes 3 other human diseases namely: yaws (subspecies pertenue), pinta (subspecies carateum) and bejel (subspecies endemicum) but it do not cause neurological disease.
    
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

      Syphilis can be visible in the mouth (lips and tongue), genitals, anus of both male and female and other body parts

• sexual contact (including oral, vaginal and anal sex)
• Congenital Syphilis can be pass by the mother to her unborn child during pregnancy and at birth
•  contacting with the broken skin of an infected person
•  it can be transmitted during the first 3 stages: Primary, Secondary and Latent stage

SYMPTOMS:
      
      Primary:
          Begins after infection by direct sexual contact with infectious lesions of another person. It usually takes between 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to manifest. Produce a painless ulceration called chancre visible on lips, tongue, breats (nipple), fingers, penis, vagina and anus. Sometimes, the chancres grow inside the genitals making it hard to diagnose. Sores will disappear within a few  weeks without treatment. Primary Syphilis can be transmitted and if not treated, secondary stage occurs within 2 to 6 weeks.


     Secondary:
          Begins 3 to 10 weeks after the disappearance of chancres. Symmetrical, reddish-pink, non-itchy rashes will appear on soles of hands and feet. It can also spread to cover the body or it may be limited to certain areas. The rash may become maculopapular or pustular. It may form flat, broad whitish, wart-like lesions known as condyloma latum on mocous membranes. Following the eruption of mucous sores may be visible on the mouth, around the genitalia and rectum. Fever, sore throat, weight loss, hair loss, headache and discomfort on mucles and joints may develop. This stage is extremely contagious and may also be spread by kissing if there are sores in the mouth, avoid skin to skin contact with an infected person. Symptoms of this stage may disappear without treatment. if left untreated, it may reoccur for up to 2 years before it progress to Latency stage.

•  The first 2 stages are known as early stage of Syphilis 

      Latent:
          During the Latency Period, all symptoms will disappear. Some people remain in the latent stage for many years. However, the bacteria still to replicate and it is extremely contagious. It is important to seek treatment even if the symptoms have stopped. Latency Period can still be treated.


     Tertiary:
          Tertiary stage can last for decades and is more difficult to treat but treatment is still an option. Although it is not contagious, it can be extremely damaging to the infected person. Symptoms become more dangerous to the body and can include damage to the joints, weakening of the bones, gradual blindness, heart disease and liver disease. Tertiary stage may be divided into 3 different forms:
          Gummatous syphilis characterized by the formation of chronic gummas, which are soft tumor-like balls of inflammation which may vary considerable in size. They typically affect the skin, bone and liver but can occur anywhere including saddle nose deformation.
          Neurosyphilis refers to the infection of the central nervous system. in the form of syphilitic meningitis or late menigovascular syphilis, general paresis with dementia or tabes dorsalis. Late neurosyphilis typically occurs 4 to 25 years after the initial infection.
          Cardiovascular syphilis usually occurs 10-30 years after the initial infection. Syphilitic aortitis is the most common complication, which may result in aneurysm.
  

     Congenital Syphilis:
          Occurs during pregnancy and birth. some syphilitic infants are born without symptoms. Common symptoms that then develop over first couple years of life including: hepatosplenomegaly, rash. fever, neurosyphilis and pneumonitis. if left untreated, late congenital syphilis may occur including: saddle nose formation, Higoumenakis sign, saber shin, or Clutton's joint among others.
 

     Other Conditions:
          Syphilis if left untreated may cause serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes, nervous system, bones and joints. It can result in dementia, lack of control over movements, partial or complete blindness, aneurysm and death. Another possible consequence is an increase risk of HIV infection (virus that causes AIDS) because of the open sores.
    

PREVENTION:
    
     Syphilis is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected. 
     Avoiding skin to skin contact to the sores of infected person.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      

Treatment:

     Syphilis may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors. 
     Follow up examination is important
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Syphilis
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STI's
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org 
www.nlm.nih.gov/medicineplus

GRANULOMA INGUINALE

GRANULOMA INGUINALE:
     Granuloma inguinale is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterial infection, characterized by ulcerative genital lesions. This sexually transmitted infection causes bumps and blisters to form on the genitalia, which, if left untreated, can destroy genital tissues and organs. It is also known as "donovanosis, granuloma genitoinguinale, granuloma inguinale tropicum, granuloma venereum, granuloma venereum genitoinguinale, lupoid form of groin ulceration, serpiginous ulceration of the groin, ulcerating granuloma of the pudendum and ulcerating sclerosing granuloma."

CAUSES:
      The infection is caused by the bacteria "Klebsiella granulomatis", used to be called "Calymmatobacterium granulomatis."
    
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:  

• Unprotected sexual contact (including, vaginal, anal and Very rarely during oral sex)
• Spreads from one host to another through contact with the open sores (by touching the sores)
• Can be passed by the mother to her baby by vaginal childbirth 
• having multiple sex partners
• being male (men are twice as likely to contract granuloma inguinale)
• being between the ages of 20 and 40

SYMPTOMS:
   
     Small, painless nodules appear after about 10–40 days of the contact with the bacteria. Later the nodules burst, creating open, fleshy, oozing lesions. The infection spreads, mutilating the infected tissue. The infection will continue to destroy the tissue until treated. The lesions occur at the region of contact typically found on the shaft of the penis, the labia, or the perineum. Rarely, the vaginal wall or cervix is the site of the lesion.

• rectal discomfort
• diarrhea
• upset stomach
• About half of infected men and women have sores in the anal area.
• Small, beefy-red bumps appear on the genitals (penis on male, vagina / labia on female) and around the anus.
• The skin gradually wears away, and the bumps turn into raised, beefy-red, velvety nodules called granulation tissue. They are usually painless, but they bleed easily if injured.
•  The disease slowly spreads and destroys genital tissue.
•  Tissue damage may spread to the area where the legs meet the torso. This area is called the inguinal folds.
•  The genitals and the skin around them lose skin color.

     In its early stages, it may be hard to tell the difference between donovanosis, chancroid and syphilis, however, after a few weeks they begin to change in size and appearance. The bumps gradually increase in size and begin to eat away at the genital tissue, causing scarring and destruction..

     In the later stages, donovanosis may look like advanced genital cancers, lymphogranuloma venereum, and anogenital cutaneous amebiasis.

     If left untreated, granuloma inguinale can cause some serious health complications, including:
   
    Genital damage and scarring
    Permanent genital swelling due to scarring
    Loss of skin color in genital area
    Swelling of the subcutaneous tissue in the groin region
     
  
PREVENTION:
    
     Granuloma Inguinale is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Granuloma Inguinale may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors it may take up to 3 weeks until the sore is completely healed. 
     Follow up examination is important because it may reappear after it seems to be cured.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Granuloma Inguinale
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org 
www.nlm.nih.gov/medicineplus

GONORRHEA

GONORRHEA:
     Gonorrhea also known as "the clap" is a common sexually transmitted infection. It is also visible in the genital tract, mouth and rectum.

CAUSES:
      Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrheae.
    
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact (including, vaginal, anal and oral sex)
• Can be transmitted through vaginal and seminal fluids
• Can be passed by the mother to her baby by vaginal childbirth

SYMPTOMS:
     Neisseria gonorrheae bacteria can live in vaginal fluid and in semen. Incubation period may take from 2 to 14 days. Symptoms usually appear within 4 to 6 days after you are infected.
     The following are the symptoms of Gonorrhea:
     
     MALES: 

• Infectious urethritis (inflammation of the urethra)
• Painful or burning sensation while urinating
• urinating urgency
•  abdominal pain
• Unsual discharge of puss from the penis (yellow, white or green in color)
• fever
• cramps
• nausea or vomitting 
• anal discharge and bleeding, pain in bowel movement if infection is in rectum
• If not treated infertility

     FEMALES:

• Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
• Dysuria (painful urination)
•  Fever
• urinary urgency
• vaginal discharge and bleeding
•  cramps
• nausea or vomitting
• anal dicharge and itching, pain in bowel movement if infection is in rectum
• Difficulty in pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy and other dangerous complications of prenancy)
• infertility

     Eye Disease:

• neonatal and adult blindness by conjunctivitis

     Other Conditions:

• Proctitis (inflammation of the rectum)  
• skin lesions 
• joint infection (pain and swelling joints) 
• meningitis 
• endocarditis 
• epididymitis 
• prostitis 
• pelvic inflammatory disease 
• perihepatitis 
• septic abortion
• chorioamnionitis during pregnancy 

PREVENTION:
    
     Gonorrhea is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Gonorrhea may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Gonorrhea
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org

CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia:
     Chlamydia is a bacterial infection spread solely through of sexual contact. It is also known as "silent epidemic"..

CAUSES:
      Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.
     Chlamydia is a risk factor for contracting HIV, due to their ecological association or shared risk of exposure, and biologically facilitated transmission of one infection by the other.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact (including, vaginal, anal and oral sex)
• Can be passed by the mother to her baby by vaginal childbirth

SYMPTOMS:
     Chlamydia bacteria can live in vaginal fluid and in semen. About 70 percent of chlamydial infections have no symptoms, thereby naming it the "silent" disease. Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 3 weeks after you are infected. Those who do have symptoms may have an abnormal discharge (mucus or pus) from the vagina or penis or experience pain while urinating. These early symptoms may be very mild.

     MALES: 

• Infectious urethritis (inflammation of the urethra)
• Painful or burning sensation while urinating
• Unusual discharge from the penis (less viscious and lighter in color than Gonorrhea)
• Swollen or tender testicles
• If left untreated can cause epididymitis (painful inflammation of epididymis)
• If not treated within 6-8weeks it can cause sterility (inability to effect sexual reproduction)
• It is also a potential cause of prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland)

     FEMALES:

• Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
• Dysuria (painful urination)
•  Fever
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• urinary urgency
• Cervicitis (inflammation of the uterine cervix)
• Asymptomatic infection that is not detected, approximately half will develop PID (pelvic inflammatory disease, generic term for inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tube and ovaries)
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Difficulty in pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy and other dangerous complications of pregnancy)

     Eye Disease:

• Chlamydia conjunctivitis (for both male and female)

     Other Conditions:

• Lympogranuloma verereum (infection of lymph node and lymphatics)
• Genital ulceration
• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin and other regions of the body
• Proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) 

PREVENTION:
    
     Chlamydia is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Chlamydia may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Chlamydia
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection. 










Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org

CHANCROID

Chancroid:
     Chancroid is a bacterial infection spread solely through of sexual contact. It is also known as soft chancre.

CAUSES:
      Chancroid is caused by the fastidious Gram-negative streptobacillus called Haemophilus ducreyi.
     Chancroid is a risk factor for contracting HIV, due to their ecological association or shared risk of exposure, and biologically facilitated transmission of one infection by the other.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact 
• Engaging with high-risk sexual behaviors

SYMPTOMS:
     Within 1 day - 2 weeks after getting chancroid, a person will get a small bump in the genitals. The bump becomes an ulcer within a day of its appearance. The ulcer characteristically:

• Ranges in size from 1/8 inch to 2 inches across
• Is painful
• Is soft
• Has sharply defined borders
• Has a base that is covered with a grey or yellowish-grey material
• Has a base that bleeds easily if it is banged or scraped
• painful lymphadenopathy occurs in 30 to 60% of patients.
• dysuria (pain with urination) and dyspareunia(pain with intercourse) in females

     About half of infected men have only a single ulcer. Women frequently have four or more ulcers, with fewer symptoms.
     The initial ulcer may be mistaken as a "hard" chancre, the typical sore of primary syphilis, as opposed to the "soft chancre" of chancroid.
     About half of the people who are infected with a chancroid will develop enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, the nodes located in the fold between the leg and the lower abdomen.
     In half of people who have swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, the nodes will break through the skin and cause draining abscesses. The swollen lymph nodes and abscesses are often called buboes.

     Locations: 
    
      MALES: 

• Foreskin
• Groove behind the head of the penis
• Shaft of the penis
• Head of the penis
• Opening of the penis
• Scrotum

     FEMALES:

• Outer vagina lips (Labia majora). "kissing ulcers" may develop. These are ulcers that occur on opposite surface of the labia. 
• Inner vagina lips (Labia minora)
• Fourchette
• Vestibule
• Clitoris
• Perineal area (area between genital and anus)
• Inner thighs

PREVENTION:
    
     Chancroid is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Chancroid may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors.
     Large lymph node swellings need to be drained, either with a needle or local surgery.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Chancroid
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

WHAT is STIs?

     Sexually Transmitted Infections or STIs have been well known for over hundreds of years. In the past, these infections are mostly been referred as Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STDs. Until in 1990's, it is commonly known as Venereal Diseases or VDs. In recent years, it is preferred as Sexually Transmitted Infections or STIs as it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected and may potentially infect others.

Mode of Transmissions:
     STIs may be transmitted by human by human sexual behaviors including:

• Vaginal Intercourse
• Oral Sex
• Anal Sex
• IV Drug Needles (after it was used by an infected person or sharing needles)
• Childbirth
• Breastfeeding

TYPES of SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS:
     BACTERIAL:

• Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi)
• Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis)
• Gonorrhea (Neissera gonorrhoeae) colloquially known as "the clap"
• Granuloma Inguinale (Klebsiella granulomatis)
• Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

      VIRAL:

• Viral Hepatitis
• Herpes simplex (Herpes simplex virus 1,2)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Molluscum Contagiosum Virus (MCV)

     PARASITES:

• Crab louse (Pthirus pubis) colloquially known as "carbs" or "pubic lice"
• Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei)

     PROTOZOAL:

• Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis) colloquially known as "trich"

Voluntary Counseling and Testing

What is VCT?

            Voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT). VCT is a confidential counseling and HIV Antibody testing offered by DOH accredited and licensed laboratories, clinics and hospitals.

What steps will the client undergo?

• Pre-test counseling
• HIV antibody testing
• Post-test counseling

Who should undergo VCT?

            Anyone who thinks that he or she has any of the following risks of getting HIV should seek VCT.

• Unprotected sex with multiple partners
• Unprotected sex with person of unknown HIV status
• Unprotected sex with sex workers
• Unprotected anal sex between males
• Injecting prohibited drugs

*The Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Acts of 1998 (Republic Act 8504) mandates the voluntary nature of the HIV antibody test.

What are the benefits of VCT?

• Protection of self and loved ones from HIV and AIDS 
• Access and network with services

(Medical, Psychosocial, Emotional, Spiritual, Legal, Palliative etc.)

HIV/AIDS: Mga karagdagang kaalaman (Frequently Asked Questions)

Ang HIV ay dinadala ng mga likido ng katawan gaya ng semilya, dugo, at gatas. May apat na pinakamahalagang paraan para mahawa ng HIV:

• Pakikipagtalik sa tao na may HIV

• Pagsasalin ng dugo o mga produktong hango sa dugo o iba pang likido ng katawan gaya ng semilya, o di kaya paglilipat ng parte ng katawan (organ transplantation) mula sa taong may HIV.

• Mula sa ina papunta sa kanyang sanggol: maaaring sa pagbubuntis, panganganak, o pagpapasuso.

• Paggamit ng karayom na naiturok sa ibang tao na may HIV

Batay sa mga kadahilanang ito, may mga taong maaaring sabihing high risk o delikadong mahawa ng HIV. Kabilang dito ang mga prostitute at mga gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal ng droga.

Anong uri ng pakikipagtalik ang maaaring magkalat o maghawa ng HIV/AIDS?

Ang pagpasok ng titi sa puke (vaginal intercourse) o ang pagpasok ng titi sa puwit (anal intercourse) ay mga uri ng pakikipagtalik na may pinakamataas na probababilidad na mahawa o makahawa. Mas mataas ang probabilidad na mahawa ang babae sa vaginal intercourse, at ang tumatanggap o nasa receiving end ng anal intercourse. Nakakahawa rin ang pagsupsop sa titi o puke. 

Ligtas o protektado ba ang mga gumagamit ng condom?

Oo, ang condom ay mabisang proteksyon laban sa HIV/AIDS, at may ebidensya na talagang nakakabawas ang paggamit ng condom sa paghawa ng HIV. Ngunit maaari paring mahawa, halimbawa kung masira ang condom habang nakikipagtalik. 

Totoo bang hindi ako mahahawa ng HIV kung hindi magpalabas ng semilya ang aking katalik?

Bago pa man labasan ang lalake ng semilya, may lumalabas na likido na tintatawag na precum at maaari rin itong magtaglay ng HIV kung ang lalake ay may HIV. Para sigurado, higit na mainam wang paggamit ng condom o ang pag-iwas sa pakikipagtalik sa sinumang tiyak na may HIV o kaya’y hindi sigurado kung ano ang HIV status. 

Ligtas ba ang oral sex?

Oral sex, o ang pagsupsop sa tite o puke, ay maaari paring maging tulay sa paghawa ng HIV, bagamat maliit lamang ang probabilidad nito. Maaaring mahawa na babae o lalake na sumusupsop sa tite ng lalakeng may HIV kung ang semilya ay makarating sa mga bahagi ng bibig na may sugat o singaw. Sapagkat hindi nakakahawa ang laway o saliva, ang probabilidad na mahawahan ng HIV sa oral sex ay limitado sa gumagawa nito (i.e. ang sumusupsop) at hindi sa sinusupsop. 

Maaari ba akong mahawa ng HIV sa pakikipaghalikan?

Sapagkat konti lamang ang HIV na nasa laway, hindi ito sapat para makahawa, at dahil dito, itinuturing ang pakikipaghalikan bilang low risk activity. Ngunit dapat parin maging maingat dahil ang pakikipaghalikan ay maaaring maghatid sa mga sitwasyon na high risk gaya ng pakikipagtalik. 

Ang mga lesbian o babaeng nakikipagtalik sa kapwa babae – sila ba ay ligtas sa HIV?

Bagamat may maliit na posibilidad, hindi itinuturing na high risk ang pakikipagtalik ng babae sa kapwa babae.

Mas delikado ba ang anal sex o seks sa puwit kaysa vaginal sex o seks sa puke?

Oo mas delikado ang anal sex sa kadahilanang mas manipis ang balat sa puwit o rectum. Dahil dito, mas medaling masugatan at magdugo habang nakikipagtalik. Ang mga nasugatang ugat ay maaaring magsilbing daan para marating ng HIV ang katawan. Higit na delikado ang anal sex sa receptive partner o ang pinapasok ng tite, kaysa sa insertive partner o siyang nagpapasok ng tite. 

Maaari bang mahawa ng HIV sa kagat ng lamok o ibang insekto o hayop? E kagat ng tao?

Hindi. Kapag ang lamok ay kumakagat, hindi ito nagtuturok ng nakain nitong dugo sa katawan. Hindi rin nakakahawa ng HIV ang kagat ng hayop gaya ng aso o pusa. Sa ibang bansa, may ilang kaso ng pagkahawa dahil sa matinding pagkakagat ng taong may HIV, ngunit ito’y bihirang bihira at hindi mahalagang dahilan ng paghawa ng HIV. 

Ang pagpapatuli o circumcision ba ay proteksyon laban sa HIV?

Ayon sa mga pagsusuri, ang mga lalakeng tuli o circumcised ay mas maliit ang probabilidad na magkaron ng HIV kung ikukumpara sa mga supot o uncircumcised. Ngunit hindi ito tiyak na proteksyon, mas binabawasan lang nito ang probabilidad ng 50%. Kailangan paring gawin ng mga tuli o circumcised na lalake ang mga proteksyon gaya ng paggamit ng condom. 

Maaari ko bang makuha ang HIV sa pagdonate ng dugo (blood donation), o sa pagsalin ng dugo sa akin (blood transfusion)?

Sa kasalukuyang panahon ay sterile o malinis na malinis na ang mga ginagamit ng karayom at iba pang gamit sa pagkuha ng dugo sa blood donation. Hindi ka maaaring magkaron gn HIV sa pagdonate ng dugo o blood donation. Sa blood transfusion naman, hindi rin dapat mag-alala dahil sinusuri ang dugo para sa HIV bago ito i-approve sa pagsalin. Sa kabuuan, ligtas ang pagdodonate at pagsasalin ng dugo at hindi maaring mahawa ng HIV dahil dito. 

Ako ay nagtratrabaho sa ospital bilang nurse, doktor, o technician. Maaari ba akong magkaron ng HIV sa ospital?

Huwag mag-alala dahil basta sinusunod mo ang mga patakarang pangkaligtasan (universal precaution), hindi ka mahahawa. May ilang kaso sa ibang bansa na nahawa dahil sa aksidenteng pagkatusok ng mga karayom na nagamit ng pasyenteng may HIV (needlestick injury) kaya dapat maging ma-ingat sa paghawak ng mga karayom. 

May HIV ako pero umiinom na ako ng antiretrovirals. Makakahawa parin ba ako?

Kahit na umiinom ka na ng gamot at kahit pa sa laboratory test ay makitang mababa na ang viral load o ang bilang ng HIV sa iyong katawan, may HIV ka parin at maaari ka paring makahawa ng HIV. Kaya dapat maging maingat ka parin, at dapat ring mag-ingat ay iyong partner.

Hindi ako sigurado sa HIV status ko at sa HIV status ng partner ko. Anong dapat kong gawin?

Huwag mahiya o mag-alinlangang talakayan ang isyu ng HIV. Magpasuri ng HIV status sa pamamagitan ng HIV Testing at anyayahan rin ang iyong partner na magpasuri. Ang pagiging HIV positive ay hindi katapusan ng mundo at may mga gamot dito. Ang kaalaman tungkol sa iyong HIV status at HIV status ng iyong partner ay isang mahalagang paraan para maiwasan natin ang HIV.

source: http://kalusugan.ph/sakit/?k=kaalaman&a=hiv