Here is the continuation of last edition’s article on sexually transmitted diseases. This issue remains a hot topic across every level of our society here in Asia. A night on the town with “massage complete” is a relatively cheap deal. Bisexuality, multiple sexual partners as well as prostitution and unfortunately paedophilia seem to be common place and even accepted as the norm in some pockets of our society. Many sex workers being young and uneducated are unaware of the dangers of unprotected sex, or how to correctly protect themselves. Their clients are often more than pleased not to oblige by wearing condoms…after all you don’t shower with your rain coat on do you? Well perhaps more people would be happy to wear their raincoats if they knew that the average gonorrhoea rate amongst sex workers in Bali is 80%, and HIV is as high as 20%!....oh and by the way, sex workers do not have “prostitute” tattooed across their forehead, and not all of them are found in groups of girlie gangs in the lobbies of cheap hotels!
HIV / AIDS.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a viral illness which causes damage to the immune system. After several years HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) which is when the immune system is no longer able to resist other infections. HIV/AIDS can result in illness and death. In some areas of the world, the rates of HIV/AIDS illnesses are growing, not slowing and very large numbers of people are infected with the virus.
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. The immune system helps protect us from disease. When our immune system is deficient or weakened, our bodies are less able to fight off disease. HIV positive means that a blood test shows that a person has the virus in his or her body. Until the virus severely attacks the immune system, which may not be for many years, the person does not have AIDS.
How do you get HIV?
- HIV is spread by HIV infected body fluids getting into the blood stream of other people. Body fluids include blood, sperm and vaginal secretions. The body fluids can get into the bloodstream through tiny abrasions and cuts.
- The virus can get into another person’s blood stream through sharing needles.
- HIV can be passed on during unprotected sex because the semen can enter tiny abrasions or cuts inside the other person’s body. In the same way vaginal secretions, including menstrual blood can get inside tiny abrasions on a partner’s body.
- A pregnant woman can pass HIV onto her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
- HIV can be passed on during blood transfusions if screening facilities are not up to standard.
You can’t get HIV through:
- hugging or touching or social kissing a person who is HIV positive.
- from mosquito or insect bites
- from sharing a house with a person who is HIV positive
- from working or going to school with a person who is HIV positive
- through donating blood
- from toilet seats, door knobs or coffee cups.
HIV cannot live for very long outside the body.
How do you know if you have HIV?
Sometimes people don’t know they have HIV for years because it can take a long time for symptoms to show. A blood test will show if a person is HIV positive. You can get a blood test from your doctor or laboratory. It takes up to 3 months after infection with the virus for it to show up in a blood test. You can have the virus and pass it on, before the blood test shows it is there.
Treatment - There is no cure and no vaccine for HIV. There is treatment available to help a person stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. There are different drugs to help the immune system battle the HIV. This keeps the immune system stronger so that infections are less likely to take hold.
Prevention - You can lessen the risk of getting HIV in a number of ways including:
- by practising safe sex.
- by not sharing needles
- being careful around mishaps such as a blood spill or discarded needles.
Impact of HIV/AIDS
- Over 10 million young people in the world are living with HIV or AIDS
- 2.6 million young people are infected with HIV every year
- 700, 000 of the young people infected are in Australasia and the Pacific.
- Young people account for at least 50% of people who become infected worldwide.
SYPHILIS
Syphilis is a bacterial infection spread by close sexual contact. While syphilis is on the decline in the western world, it still remains a common problem in third world countries. Fortunately, syphilis is easily treated if diagnosis and therapy are commenced early. We rarely see terminal (fatal) cases of syphilis any more.
Signs - The first sign can be a painless sore on the spot where sexual contact has happened about two weeks or so after having sex. This could be on the genitals or mouth. The sore goes away but the disease is still there - moving now into stage 2 in which there could be a spreading rash, swollen joints, fever, patchy hair loss or moist lumps around the anus or genitals. If a baby is born to a woman with stage 2 syphilis, it could be born with serious health problems including deformities and blindness.Stage 3 is the next phase when the disease leads to damage that causes insanity, paralysis and death.
Testing & treatment - The good news is that a simple blood test can show whether you have syphilis, and medication prescribed by your doctor will get rid of it, thus avoiding insanity and early death. If you think you could have syphilis or any STD you should be tested immediately. Like other STD’s it is important that your partner be treated.
Prevention - To avoid syphilis use condoms during oral sex, anal sex or vaginal sex.
TRICHOMONIASIS
It has been estimated that as many as one in five sexually active women will get trichomoniasis in her lifetime. Trichomoniasis is an infection of the genital area which is caught by sexual intercourse with another person who also has the condition.
Signs - In women, there are usually signs of having trichomoniasis although some women don’t get any symptoms at all. There is usually a smelly vaginal discharge. The colour of the discharge varies - it can be light grey to a yellow green. The vaginal area can be itchy or there can be a burning feeling. Often men don’t have any signs, but they may have pain when passing urine. The signs of trichomoniasis can be more noticeable after sexual intercourse.
Testing - The doctor will need to take a small sample (swab of the infected area) to be tested.
Treatment - All sexual partners should be treated. This is usually by oral medication (taken by mouth). Avoid alcohol while having treatment and for 3 days after treatment stops - there is an unpleasant reaction between these tablets and alcohol - you might feel faint or vomit. If the woman is pregnant there is different medication available. Neither partner should have sexual intercourse until the condition has cleared.
Prevention - Prevention is by using condoms.
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Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com”.
