Sexually Transmitted Diseases

a. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).^l AIDS is the end disease stage of the HIV infection. The HIV infection is contagious, but it cannot be spread in the same manner as a common cold, measles, or chicken pox. AIDS is contagious, however, in the same way that sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, are contagious. AIDS can also be spread through the sharing of intravenous drug needles and syringes used for injecting illicit drugs.

b. High Risk Group. Today those practicing high risk behavior who become infected with the AIDS virus are found mainly among homosexual and bisexual persons and intravenous drug users. Heterosexual transmission is expected to account for an increasing proportion of those who become infected with the AIDS virus in the future.

(1) AIDS caused by virus. The letters A-I-D-S stand for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. When a person is sick with AIDS, he is in the final stages of a series of health problems caused by a virus (germ) that can be passed from one person to another chiefly during sexual contact or through the sharing of intravenous drug needles and syringes used for "shooting" drugs. Scientists have named the AIDS virus "HIV." The HIV attacks a person's immune system and damages his ability to fight other disease. Without a functioning immune system to ward off other germs, he now becomes vulnerable to becoming infected by bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and other viruses and malignancies, which may cause life-threatening illness, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and cancer.

(2) No known cure. There is presently no cure for AIDS. There is presently no vaccine to prevent AIDS.

(3) Virus invades blood stream. When the AIDS virus enters the blood stream, it begins to attack certain white blood cells (T-Lymphocytes). Substances called antibodies are produced by the body. These antibodies can be detected in the blood by a simple test, usually two weeks to three months after infection. Even before the antibody test is positive, the victim can pass the virus to others.

(4) Signs and Symptoms.

• Some people remain apparently well after infection with the AIDS virus. They may have no physically apparent symptom of illness. However, if proper precautions are not used with sexual contacts and/or intravenous drug use, these infected individuals can spread the virus to others.

• The AIDS virus may also attack the nervous system and cause delayed damage to the brain. This damage may take years to develop and the symptoms may show up as memory loss indifference, loss of coordination, partial paralysis, or mental disorder. These symptoms may occur alone, or with other symptoms mentioned earlier.

(5) AIDS: the present situation. The number of people estimated to be infected with the AIDS virus in the United States is over 1.5 million as of April 1988. In certain parts of central Africa 50% of the sexually active population is infected with HIV. The number of persons known to have AIDS in the United States to date is over 55,000; of these, about half have died of the disease. There is no cure. The others will soon die from their disease. Most scientists predict that all HIV infected persons will develop AIDS sooner or later, if they don't die of other causes first.

(6) Sex between men. Men who have sexual relations with other men are especially at risk. About 70% of AIDS victims throughout the country are male homosexuals and bisexuals. This percentage probably will decline as heterosexual transmission increases. Infection results from a sexual relationship with an infected person.

(7) Multiple partners. The risk of infection increases according to the number of sexual partners one has, male or female. The more partners you have, the greater the risk of becoming infected with the AIDS virus.

(8) How exposed. Although the AIDS virus is found in several body fluids, a person acquires the virus during sexual contact with an infected person's blood or semen and possibly vaginal secretions The virus then enters a person's blood stream through their rectum vagina or penis. Small (unseen by the naked eye) tears in the surface lining of the vagina or rectum may occur during insertion of the penis fingers, or other objects, thus opening an avenue for entrance of the virus directly into the blood stream.

(9) Prevention of sexual transmission--know your partner. Couples who maintain mutually faithful monogamous relationships (only one continuing sexual partner) are protected from AIDS through sexual transmission. If you have been faithful for at least five years and your partner has been faithful too, neither of you is at risk.

(10) Mother can infect newborn. If a woman is infected with the AIDS virus and becomes pregnant, she has about a 50% chance of passing the AIDS virus to her unborn child.

(11) Summary. AIDS affects certain groups of the population. Homosexual and bisexual persons who have had sexual contact with other homosexual or bisexual persons as well as those who "shoot" street drugs are at greatest risk of exposure, infections and eventual death. Sexual partners of these high risk individuals are at risk, as well as any children born to women who carry the virus. Heterosexual persons are increasingly at risk.

(12) Donating blood. Donating blood is not risky at all. You cannot get AIDS by donating blood.

(13) Receiving blood. High risk persons and every blood donation is now tested for the presence of antibodies to the AIDS virus. Blood that shows exposure to the AIDS virus by the presence of antibodies is not used either for transfusion or for the manufacture of blood products. Blood banks are as safe as current technology can make them. Because antibodies do not form immediately after exposure to the virus, a newly infected person may unknowingly donate blood after becoming infected but before his antibody test becomes positive.

(14) Testing of military personnel. You may wonder why the Department of Defense currently tests its uniformed services personnel for presence of the AIDS virus antibody. The military feels this procedure is necessary because the uniformed services act as their own blood bank in a combat situation. They also need to protect new recruits (who unknowingly may be AIDS virus carriers) from receiving live virus vaccines. HIV antibody positive soldiers may not be assigned overseas (includes Alaska and Hawaii). They must be rechecked every six months to determine if the disease has become worse. If the disease has progressed, they are discharged from the Army (policy per AR 600-110). This regulation requires that all soldiers receive annual education classes on AIDS.