the great imitator

  sooo i got this disease from a girl in las vegas, dont ask! I read up on it annnnnnnnnnddd it really doesnt seem to great. Syphilis is a STD caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. many people dont even show symptoms for years, but this makes them also at risk for complications later in the disease. i dont know about them but i got them already, look.

wow looks even worse when i put it up on here

The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore, thats whats above. ive done some research and it could take 3-6 weeks to get to the first stage. months for the second stage in this stage it is likely for you to get a rash throught your body as shown below, and years for the third stage.in the third stage if not treated it can damage your internal organs and you could die. sooooo its not really a big deal :/ good thing im not a girl, because if i were to have a baby as a girl then it says i would have a good chance of the baby being born dead, or if it survived it might have syphillis. man im soo glad this stuff is easy to cure, mostly in the stage im in. right now i can just do an injection of penicillin and that shold take care of it.i should have just not had sex it would have saved me this big sore and it would also have saved me the 60 bucks i payed.from now on im going to be more careful with drugs and unsafe sex.

Silent but deadly LGV

LGV is caused by three strains of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The worst part of LGV are the symptoms which include small genital or rectal lesions, ulcers in the vagina, rectum, and urethra, transmission of HIV, bleeding or drainage from rectum, fever, or fatigue. Incubation time consists of 3-30 days. This STI is serious; if it goes untreated it could result in Genital mutilation, HIV, or death. This is also a bad STI to have while pregnant because it could lead to a premature pregnancy. This disease can be so deadly but can so easily be cured with weeks of antibiotics, doxycycline, and twice a day for 21 days. If the person suffering from LGV is a pregnant woman then they should be treated with erythromycin instead of doxycycline. The only way to prevent this is to abstain from sexual contact with anyone who has LGV, stay in a monogamous relationship with one person who does not have LGV, and the use of male latex condoms.

This informational paragraph was brought to you by Rachel Winders.

FUN FACT:  outbreaks in the Netherlands and other European countries among men who have sex with men (MSM) have raised concerns about cases of LGV in the U.S.

http://stdhelp.org/std-pictures/lgv-pictures.php

http://www.cdc.gov/std/lgv/stdfact-lgv.htm

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/lymphogranulom-eng.php

Lymphgranuloma Venereum… Huh? That’s A Big Word…

Lymphgranuloma venereum, also known as LGV. LGV is caused by three strands of the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis. Man, I do not want this.  There are a few visual symptoms, such as genital papule(s) (raised surface or bumps) and or ulcers, and swelling of the lymph glands in the genital area. LGV may also produce rectal ulcers, bleeding, pain, and discharge, especially among those who practice receptive anal intercourse. LGV can be difficult to diagnose. Typically, the primary lesion produced by LGV is a small genital or rectal lesion, which can ulcerate at the site of transmission after an incubation period of 3-30 days. These ulcers may remain undetected within the urethra, vagina, or rectum. Complications of untreated LGV may include enlargement and ulcerations of the external genitalia and lymphatic obstruction, which may lead to elephantiasis of the genitalia.  A pregnant woman with a STD can infect her baby before, during, or after the baby’s birth. She may also have early labor or early rupture of the membranes surrounding the baby in the uterus. Pregnant women should ask their doctors about getting tested for STDs, since some doctors do not routinely perform these tests. There is no vaccine against the bacteria. LGV can be treated with three weeks of antibiotics. CDC STD Treatment Guidelines recommend the use of doxycycline, twice a day for 21 days. An alternative treatment is erythromycin base or azithromycin. The health care provider will determine which is best. If you have been treated for LGV, you should notify any sex partners you had sex with within 60 days of the symptom onset so they can be evaluated and treated. This will reduce the risk that your partners will develop symptoms and/or serious complications of LGV.  It will reduce your risk of becoming re-infected as well as reduce the risk of ongoing transmission in the community. You and all of your sex partners should avoid sex until you have completed treatment for the infection and your symptoms and your partners’ symptoms have disappeared. Note: Doxycycline is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Pregnant and lactating women should be treated with erythromycin. Azithromycin may prove useful for treatment of LGV in pregnancy, but no published data are available regarding its safety and efficacy. A health care provider (like a doctor or nurse) can discuss treatment options with patients. Persons with both LGV and HIV infection should receive the same LGV treatment as those who are HIV-negative. Prolonged therapy may be required, and delay in resolution of symptoms may occur among persons with HIV. The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is asymptomatic and uninfected. Male latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, may reduce the risk of LGV transmission.  Genital ulcer diseases can occur in male or female genital areas that may or may not be covered (protected by the condom). Having had LGV and completing treatment does not prevent re-infection. Effective treatment is available and it is important that persons suspected of having LGV be treated as if they have it. Persons who are treated for LGV treatment should abstain from sexual contact until the infection is cleared.

(CDC) For: cause, symptoms, incubation, untreated, treatment, and prevention.

(CDC, www.cdc.gov) For: pregnancy.

CDC. www.cdc.gov. 23 Febuary 2011. 19 December 2011 <http://www.cdc.gov/std/lgv/stdfact-lgv.htm>.

—. www.cdc.gov. 14 September 2010. 19 December 2011 <http://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/default.htm>.

bacteria from lgv...

Kaitlyn Decker

Creepy Crawlers

Pubic lice is caused by parasites, a parasite is defined as: an organism living in, with, or on another organism. Pubic Lice are six- legged creatures that most commonly infest hair in the pubic area, although they can also infest other body hair. Pubic Lice is contracted USUALLY by sexual contact (it could also be contracted by clothing, towels, bedding, etc.) and occurs most commonly in adults.

Symptoms- Some physical symptoms you possibly could have: Itching in the genital area, light-brown insects the size of a pinhead moving on your skin or oval eggs attached to your body hair or you may experience no symptoms at all.

Incubation- After you are exposed to pubic lice, symptoms may occur in 2-6 weeks after contact.

Untreated-If the infection is left untreated; it will continue to spread to every family member in the home and will cause redness in the skin and itching in the infected areas.  The lice will also hatch more eggs and the infection won’t get any better.

Effects on the baby-Pubic Lice have not been known to affect the baby's health or the mother's health; when she is pregnant. Although, it is important for pregnant women or nursing mothers to inform their physician of a healthcare professional about the pregnancy when seeking remedies to treat pubic lice. In addition, it may be beneficial for you and your unborn baby to get tested for STI’s including HIV, as early as possible.

 Treatment- There is multiples ways to treat pubic lice, here are some ways: use a lice killing lotion containing 1% permethrin, Lindane shampoo which is a prescription medication that can kill lice and lice eggs, and Malathion lotion which also is a prescription medication and can kill lice and some lice eggs. You should wash the infected area,(towel dry) put on new clothes and underwear, machine-wash and machine-dry your clothes you had on 2-3 days prior to the treatment in hot water, repeat treatment in 9-10 days if live lice are still found, and you should be evaluated for any other STI’s

Prevention- There is multiple ways to prevent pubic lice. The best way to prevent pubic lice would be to abstain from sex. Also, only having sex with someone who does not have pubic lice is another way to prevent it. Lastly, not sharing towels, clothes, and bedding used by infested people is another way to remain safe from those creepy crawlers.

                                               

                                                      Nick Henry

Credits

CDC - Lice - Pubic "Crab" Lice - Treatment." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2 Nov. 2010. Web. 18 Dec. 2011.

"Pubic Lice (Crabs) and Pregnancy." Pregnancy Info: Birth, Baby, and Maternity Advice. Web. 18 Dec. 2011.

 "Pubic Lice (Crabs) Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment on MedicineNet.com." Web. 18 Dec. 2011.

"Pubic Lice." SkinChoice, Provider of Products for Herpes, HSV, Genital Warts, HPV, Condyloma, Herpes Treatments, Genital Wart Treatments, Acne, Acne Treatments, Scars, Scar Treatments, Wrinkles, Fin Lines, Anti Aging, AIDS, HIV, Immune System Supplements, STD, STDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD Photos, Chancroid, Chlamydia, Genital Herpes. Web. 18 Dec. 2011.

"Prevent Disease.com - The Facts On Pubic Lice." Prevent Disease.com - Aiming Towards Better Health. Web. 19 Dec. 2011.

Brown U. "Pubic Lice and Scabies." Web. 16 Dec. 2011

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)." Self Help Sexuality Guide for Everyone. 2010. Web. 16 Dec. 2011



Sick-Nast Herps

Everyone knows there is always the risk of getting an STI if you have sex. You can tell teens not to do it but in the end, it is up to them. Sorry parents. So I’m here to tell you one of the MANY STI’s you can contract from having sex. I’m sure it’s all good and fun “in the moment” but the next time you’re in the shower and you notice something that wasn’t there before, it isn’t really that fun anymore. So for some people, herpes is that disease that they are infected with.

Herpes is caused by unprotected sex with an active carrier of the disease. It’s sometimes ok to have sex with a person without a condom if they don’t have an outbreak at that time. Unprotected sex is not recommended but people will do what they want. It’s good that you know what you’re getting yourself into first. But rule number one will always be, wrap it before you tap it. Please for the love of god, don’t do it without a condom. Condoms are you’re friends.

Some signs of Herpes include crops of sores, flu-like symptoms, fever, and swollen glands. You could be one of the lucky ones who don’t ever show signs of having it, good for you. But you’re still spreading it to whoever you have unprotected sex with. Even with protection, you can still get it. S@*!t happens.

            It could take up to two weeks before you start to show symptoms after contracting the disease. And it could take twice as long to go away, but it always comes back. And as time goes on and you don’t treat it properly, it will worsen. Stress also causes outbreaks. So if you’re worried about your herpes and you want it to go away, it’ll just come back the more you freak out about it. It’s a vicious cycle that could’ve been prevented if you just were smart about what you were doing.

Herpes can also affect child birth. And if you get pregnant, hopefully not at the same time that you contracted the herpes because that would suck, tell your doctor. You’ll have to get a cesarean so the baby doesn’t become infected. Herpes can also be fatal to your child. But transmission to babies is rare.

Treatment for herpes does not cure it but only helps with the symptoms. So although the sores go away and you feel like a healthy person, it is still with you. It sucks. But you have to live with it forever. It’s scary to think about, I know. You think it can’t happen to you. But guess what, it can happen to anyone. Maybe it isn’t your fault. Your boyfriend/girlfriend said you were the only one they’d been with. and if that is the case, then they’re jerk faces who deserve to be kicked in the throat. Wear a condom next time (rule number one). What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That S@*!t will come back with you.

Dana Marie Ruf

Hep B

Hepatitis B is a virus that can be spread by direct contact with blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and/or breast milk.  It is an irritation and swelling of the liver.  It is sometimes shared at tattoo parlors, during drug abuse, and during a blood transfusion.  So watch out for dangerous activities.  If someone is infected congenitally, then there aren’t usually any visual indications, but the disease is still present.  Many infected people don’t even know that they have been infected.  Often times no symptoms are present.  But when symptoms to occur, you may feel sick for days or weeks, appetite loss, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, and jaundice.  The incubation period for Hepatitis B is about 6 months.  If gone untreated, it can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.  This will eventually lead to death.  The only treatment available for Hepatitis B is closely monitoring your liver.  If you get liver cancer or your liver is failing, a transplant is needed.  To prevent the virus, youth and teens should receive the Hep B vaccination.  Also, everyone should practice safe sex or abstinence.  Always remember that abstinence is the only 100% way to prevent pregnancy and STI’s.

http://www.liverandlife.com/guide_to_new.html (picture)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001324/



LOUIS REINMILLER

HIV is an infection that can be caused by sharing needles, blood transfers, and secretions coming in contact with tissues, or transmission from infection to newborn during pregnancy. This infection can be spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

            Symptoms can take up to 10 or 20 years before you can even notice. Normally it takes HIV one year to turn into AIDS, but some people have stronger immune systems. Physical symptoms include fever, muscle aching muscles and joints, sore throat, and swollen glands in the throat.

            It can take years before these symptoms occur, because not all HIV-infected people experience these symptoms, and doctors are still trying to figure out why.

            If this disease is not treated, then you can live years with it until it finally turns into an STD called AIDS which has no cure and targets your white blood cells and kills them, that’s why some people have a low white blood cell count, when you have HIV you are more likely to have a high white blood cell count, because your white blood cells are trying to fight off the virus from damaging your body any worse than it already is.

            If someone was to have a baby with this infecton it is possible that the baby will be born with it. The risk of HIOV transmission to the newborn is 25%-35%. The fetus can get EFV, a fetal toxicity.

            The only treatment you can get is for HIV so that it slows down and not turn into AIDS but it never goes away you will have to live with it forever.

            Abstinence is the best prevention.