Remember. . .

When you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have had sex with; and everyone they have had sex with; and so on, and so on, and so on…

Reducing Risks

Condoms are important to reduce the risks of transmitting STIs, even if other methods of birth control are being used to prevent pregnancy. Condoms should be used every time you choose to have intercourse.

If an infection is detected, it is recommended that the infected individual and their partner(s) abstain from sexual activity until treatment is complete, symptoms have subsided, and the infection is cured (when applicable).

Partner Notification

It is critical to tell your partner(s) to prevent the spread of STIs and to prevent complications. While it may be difficult to talk about sexual health problems, it is important for anyone who thinks they have an STI or tests positive for one to tell his/her current and past partner(s).

A public health professional will contact your partners confidentially.

Human Health and Disease

What is health?

‘The state of complete physical, mental and social well-being’

To sustain a healthy lifestyle person needs:

A balanced and varied diet

· Take exercise

· Proper shelter

· Enough sleep

Good hygiene will reduce the likelihood of infection

What is disease?

Disease is a disorder or malfunction of the mind

or body, which leads to a departure from good health.

Can be a disorder of a specific tissue or organ due to a

single cause. E.g. malaria.

May have many causes.

Often referred to as multi factorial. E.g. heart disease.

Disease diagnosed by a doctor analyzing

the symptoms (physical and mental signs).

Acute disease

Sudden and rapid onset

Symptoms disappear quickly

E.g. influenza

Chronic disease

Long term

Symptoms lasting months or years

E.g. Tuberculosis

Categories of diseases

Physical disease

Results from permanent or temporary damage

to the body

Infectious diseases

Organisms that cause disease inside the human body are

called pathogens

Bacteria and Viruses are the best know pathogens.

Fungi, protists and parasites can also cause disease

Diseases are said to be infectious or communicable if

pathogens can be passed from one person to another.

Examples:

Influenza ('flu)

Influenza is a virus which causes a severe form of respiratory tract infection with generalized bodily symptoms. It spreads around the world in epidemics and is responsible for much ill health as well as many deaths.

Symptoms

If you start to develop cold symptoms but starting more rapidly and rather more violently, with higher fever and severe aches and pains, often in the back and muscles, then you may well be developing influenza. This may be associated with severe headache, cough, and, as a result of the fever, intermittent sweating and shivering. Sometimes there is a gastrointestinal element, with vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Many people think they have had "flu" when all that they have suffered is a bad cold. When you have influenza you will know the difference. Most people will find it impossible to leave their bed and feel terrible.

The worst symptoms usually last for three to five days, and then should begin to improve. It is common to need two to three weeks off work as there is considerable debility left after the feverish illness is over. Do not be surprised to be quite depressed, this is a natural after-effect of the condition.

Influenza makes everyone feel terrible, but most people recover. It does however have a small, but significant mortality, especially in the very young, the very old, and those with poor immunity.

Causes

Influenza is caused by a virus which attacks our body cells resulting in various manifestations depending on the strain of the virus.

New mutations of the virus arise all the time and unfortunately immunity against one strain (which is conferred by exposure or immunization) does not protect against other strains. In the era of rapid air transport the world wide spread of a new type of influenza can be extremely fast.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

In Canada and around the world, the trend is clear: sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise.

In Canada, some of the highest rates and increased in STIs are in young people ages 15 to 24.

One of the primary defenses in the fight against STIs is awareness. With the right information, individuals can make informed choices and better protect themselves and their partners.

Different types of sexual activities that can transfer infections include:

Oral sex

Vaginal sex

Anal sex

Skin-to-skin contact for some infections

Infections can be transferred through the exchange of bodily fluids like:

Blood

Semen

Vaginal secretions

Saliva

Breast milk

Types of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Bacterial

Chlamydia

Gonorrhea

Syphilis

Viral

HPV (Genital Warts)

HIV

Herpes

Hepatitis B

Parasitic

Pubic Lice

(“crabs”)

Trichomoniasis

Chlamydia

What is it? How do you get it?

A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

You can get it through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

How do you know you have it?

70% of women and 10% of men have no symptoms. Women may notice: more vaginal discharge or itchiness, bleeding between periods or during sex, lower abdominal pain, or pain during intercourse or while urinating.

Men may notice: discharge from the penis, burning during urination, itching around the opening of the penis, or pain in the testicles.

Testing and Treatment

You can be tested through a simple urine test or a swab taken during a Pap test (females only).

Chlamydia is cured by one dose of antibiotics, but takes about 7days to clear the infection. It is important not to have sex while the cure is working because you may infect your partner or become re-infected yourself. Your partner(s) will need to be tested and treated for chlamydia also.

Gonorrhea

What is it? How do you get it?

A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

You can get it through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex. It can infect the penis, rectum, throat, eyes, and cervix.

How do you know you have it?

You may have this infection and not even know it.

Women may notice an increase in vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, bleeding or pain during sex, pain in the abdomen or pain while urinating.

Men may notice burning while urinating, thick greenish-yellow discharge from the penis or pain in the testicles.

Testing and Treatment

You can be tested through a simple urine test or a swab taken during a Pap test (females only).

It is cured by one dose of antibiotics, but takes about 7days to clear the infection. It is important not to have sex while the cure is working because you may infect your partner or become re-infected yourself. Your partner(s) will need to be tested and treated for chlamydia also.

HPV

What is it? How do you get it?

A sexually transmitted viral infection caused by the Human Papillomavirus.

It may cause genital warts or lead to cervical cancer. You can get it through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex or from sexual activities with skin-to-skin contact.

How do you know you have it?

You can pass on this virus without even knowing that you have it.

If infected, it may cause warts on the genitals or rectum that look like flesh coloured cauliflower. It may also cause itchiness, discomfort and/or bleeding during sex.

Testing and Treatment

A doctor or nurse can diagnose warts by looking at them. The virus may cause changes to the cervix and be checked during a Pap test (females).

Treatment includes burning, freezing or surgically removing the warts. A special doctor (gynecologist) may follow-up with you if there are changes to your cervix (females).

Hepatitis B

What is it? How do you get it?

A viral infection that damages the liver. It can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, blood).

You can get it through unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex or through exposure to blood or blood products.

How do you know you have it?

Hepatitis B infection may cause you to feel tired or have pain in your abdomen. You may have nausea and vomiting and/or fever and chills.

You may also notice that your skin or the whites of your eyes look yellowish. Your urine and stool may look a strange colour.

You may also have no symptoms at all.

Testing and Treatment

You can be tested through a special blood test.

Most people with this virus can fight it off with rest and healthy lifestyle changes within 6 months. While you are actively infected, you can pass it on to others. After your body has fought off the infection, you are protected from ever getting the virus again and from passing it on to others.

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

What is it? How do you get it?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS and attacks your immune system, leaving it vulnerable to other infections.

You can get the virus through an exchange of blood, vaginal fluid, semen and breast milk. It cannot be passed on through touching, hugging, kissing or other casual contact.

How do you know you have it?

You may have this virus without having any symptoms for years. You may develop mild flu-like symptoms 2-4 weeks after being infected.

Once the immune system is weakened, you may develop: frequent fever or sweats, skin rashes, swollen glands, sore throat, fatigue, headaches, rapid unexplained weight loss, and nausea/vomiting and diarrhea.

Testing and Treatment

You can be tested through a special blood test. However, it takes 3 months for the infection to be detectable.

HIV cannot be cured and may lead to AIDS. Treatment for the infection is different for everyone, but includes medications called antiretrovirals and medications to prevent other infections from harming the person.

Salmonella

Salmonellae is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness

Cholera

Cholera is an acute, diarrhea illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholera. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe. Approximately one in 20 infected persons has severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.

Typhoid

Typhoid fever is contracted when people eat food or drink water that has been infected with Salmonella typhi. It is recognized by the sudden onset of sustained fever, severe headache, nausea and severe loss of appetite. It is sometimes accompanied by hoarse cough and constipation or diarrhea. Case-fatality rates of 10% can be reduced to less than 1% with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Paratyphoid fever shows similar symptoms, but tends to be milder and the case-fatality rate is much lower.

Gonorrhea

This is caused by bacteria and can affect the vagina, cervix, urethra, rectum or even the throat.

How could I get it? Gonorrhoea can be passed on through: · vaginal sex - where the man puts his penis in the woman's vagina · anal sex - where the penis is put into the rectum · oral sex - where partners lick or suck each others sexual parts.

Can I get it from toilet seats or towels? You cannot it get it from toilet seats or swimming pools or by sharing cups and towels.

How do I know if I have it? You may not know - that is the problem with gonorrhoea. And sometimes other sexually transmissible infections can hide the symptoms of gonorrhoea. Most women notice nothing at all until the infection has spread from the cervix. Some may notice: · an unusual discharge · pain or discomfort when passing water · sore throat. Men may notice: · white or yellow discharge oozing from the tip of the penis. This is enough to stain the under pants. · pain or discomfort urinating · itching or discharge from the anus · sore throat

There may be no symptoms in both men and women. In women, it can not be picked up from cervical smear.

Syphilis

This is caused by the bacteria called Treponema pallidum which is spread mainly by sexual intercourse, but can be passed on to your baby if are pregnant. If you are pregnant, in this country you would have had this test during your antenatal visit to the hospital. It usually starts as a painless sore and may be any where in the private part, areas of contact during sex as (the mouth, anus) or in women on the neck of the womb. If left untreated it usually heals in 3 - 8 weeks. This is called primary syphilis. About 8 to 10 weeks after the sore has healed, you feel unwell with flu-like illness and develop skin rashes. Sometimes what looks like warts occur around the genitals and the peri-anal areas. This could occur over period sometimes lasting up to 2 years.. This period is known as secondary syphilis. Again it may clear without any treatment. It then lurks in the body and is only found when blood test are done for it and in others this may go on to cause problems with the joints, heart and brain. This period is what we call tertiary syphilis.

Malaria

Malaria infects an estimated 300 million people, and is spread by mosquitoes, transfusions, and shared hypodermic needles. Control of mosquito populations has led to declines in malaria in many areas. Infected individuals can be treated with a variety of medicines. However, some of the sporozoans that cause malaria heve developed immunity to some of the more commonly employed medicines.

Mental diseases

A disease that affects a person’s mind

Thoughts, emotions, memory and personal and social behavior

May have physical symptoms.

Example of a mild condition is claustrophobia

Serious mental diseases include:

Creutzfelt-Jacob disease (CJD)

Destroyed brain tissue resulting in spongy appearance

Infection with prion protein

Results in loss of co-ordination and mental derangement

Fatal

GENETIC CJD

Genetic CJD is a very rare illness. In this form, CJD is caused by an inherited abnormal gene. The illness is therefore not "caught" in any way and there is no causal relationship between this form and BSE. In most cases, the illness is known within the family because of the family history. Occasionally, genetic cases are seen in which no previous family history is identified. The definitive test in relation to genetic CJD is a blood test in order that the gene can be analysed to see whether there is any genetic abnormality. The United Kingdom has a population of around 58 million and there are only a few deaths due to genetic CJD in a year.

IATROGENIC CJD

Iatrogenic CJD is also very rare. This is CJD which has been accidentally transmitted during the course of medical or surgical procedures. The most important example of this in the United Kingdom relates to CJD transmitted via Human Growth Hormone treatment in childhood. There are only a few deaths per year due to iatrogenic CJD in the United Kingdom. The diagnosis is usually clear from the history of a relevant medical or surgical treatment in the past.

SPORADIC CJD

Sporadic CJD is numerically the most common form of CJD. It is not confined to the United Kingdom and, indeed, has been found in every country in the world where it has been looked for. In general, it affects about one person per million of the population. There are therefore some fifty to sixty deaths per year due to sporadic CJD in the United Kingdom. Similar figures are seen in other countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA. The cause of sporadic CJD remains uncertain. However, the most favoured current theory suggests that the normal prion protein in the brain undergoes a spontaneous change to the abnormal form, thereby resulting in disease. If this theory is correct (and it has not been proven at this point) then the disease arises simply as a chance event inside the brain. On this basis, it would not be "caught" in any way.

VARIANT CJD

Variant CJD was first reported in 1996. At this point in time, the CJD Surveillance Unit has not seen any cases of variant CJD with symptoms that began before 1994. Aside from 6 cases in France, one case in Ireland, one case in Italy and one case in the USA, variant CJD has been confined to the United Kingdom. The current view on variant CJD is that it has resulted from transmission of infection from BSE in cattle to humans via infectivity in food.

SCHIZOPHRENIA

How common is it? Schizophrenia affects one in every hundred people. This is about the same for many different places and peoples across the world. It seems to be more common in city areas.

Who does it affect? Schizophrenia affects men and women equally. It rarely starts before the age of 15, but can develop at any time after this. Men with schizophrenia usually notice the first signs in their late teens or early twenties. Women are often first affected a little later, in their twenties or thirties

We don’t yet know for sure what causes schizophrenia. It is likely to be a combination of several different factors, which may be different for different people.

Brain Damage New ways of producing pictures of the brain show that some people with schizophrenia have larger spaces in the brain than people who don't suffer from the illness.

Street Drugs and Alcohol Sometimes, the use of street drugs like ecstasy (e), LSD (acid), amphetamines (speed), and cannabis (hash, marijuana, pot, ganja, skunk, dope, spliffs, joints) seems to bring on schizophrenia.

In manic depressive illness, sufferers experience mood swings that are far beyond what most people ever experience in the course of their lives. These mood swings may be low, as in depression, or high, as in periods when we might feel very elated. These high periods are known as ‘manic’ phases. Many sufferers have both high and low phases, but some will only experience either depression or mania. A more technical term used to describe this illness is ‘bipolar affective disorder’. This leaflet will describe both aspects of the disorder, the particular problems they present, ways of coping with them and the range of treatments available. It is a serious condition but, with the right treatment, it is possible to live one’s life without too much interference.