STD Testing and Treatments

Women & Infants participating in study of treatment of common viral infection in pregnancy

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:15:34 +0000

Public release date: 23-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Amy Blusteinablustein@wihri.org401-681-2822Women & Infants Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, through its participation in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, has been named the lead center in a 14-site, $25 million study of cytomegalovirus (CMV), the most common infection during pregnancy. Researchers want to see whether giving recently infected pregnant women antibodies against CMV lowers the rate of CMV infection in their babies. this study is funded by the National Institute of Health’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Principal investigator is Brenna Anderson, MD, of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Integrated Program for High-Risk Pregnancy at Women & Infants Hospital and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Anderson said, “Each year in the US, CMV infection affects more infants than down syndrome and spina bifida combined. yet until recently we have not been able to efficiently screen for it. Now that we can, we are in a position to test promising treatments.” CMV is a common virus spread like a cold or the flu. Approximately 1% of pregnant women will be infected with CMV for the first time, which results in a 40% chance that the fetus will also be infected. Fetuses who are infected with CMV are more likely to be born earlier than expected and develop problems such as hearing loss and learning disabilities. The study will screen more than 150,000 women for evidence of primary CMV infection and randomize those who are positive to CMV hyperimmune globulin or placebo in an effort to decrease the risk of congenital CMV. this will be among the biggest trials done by the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network in their 20+ year history. Pregnant women with a single fetus who have not yet reached the 24th week of pregnancy are eligible to participate in this study. a small amount of additional blood will be taken from participants in conjunction with routinely scheduled prenatal blood testing (that is, the screening will minimize needle sticks). “Screening will show a woman if she has been infected with CMV while pregnant, and she may then be eligible for the randomized treatment trial,” said Dr. Anderson. ###This research study is funded by the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. For more information, call (401) 274-1122, extension 8523 or visit womenandinfants.org. About Women & Infants Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care new England hospital, is one of the nation’s leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns. a U.S.News Best Hospital in Gynecology and Best Children’s Hospital in Neonatology, Women & Infants was ranked number one in the Providence metro area and a top-performer in cancer, and has achieved a 5-star rating in Maternity Care for 2011 from HealthGrades. The primary teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University for obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics, as well as a number of specialized programs in women’s medicine, Women & Infants is the eighth largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country with nearly 8,400 deliveries per year. In 2009, Women & Infants opened the country’s largest, single-family room neonatal intensive care unit. New England’s premier hospital for women and newborns, Women & Infants and Brown offer fellowship programs in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, neonatal-perinatal medicine, pediatric and perinatal pathology, gynecologic pathology and cytopathology, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. It is home to the nation’s only mother-baby perinatal psychiatric partial hospital, as well as the nation’s only fellowship program in obstetric medicine. Women & Infants has been designated as a Breast Center of Excellence from the American College of Radiography; a Center for In Vitro Maturation Excellence by SAGE In Vitro Fertilization; a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence by the National Institutes of Health; and a Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in high risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Oncology Group and the National Institutes of Health’s Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. [ | E-mail | Share ] AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Minnesota HIV Statistics show decrease in new cases – Healthcare Global

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:54:47 +0000

Prevention efforts working, targeted education needed to show declines in all communities MINNEAPOLIS, may 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — according to statistics released by the Minnesota Department of Health, 292 confirmed new cases of HIV were reported in Minnesota during 2011. The 292 new cases represent a 12 percent decline from 2010 and are the lowest number of new cases seen since 2003. The Minnesota AIDS Project, the leading source for HIV information and services in Minnesota, believes that this data demonstrates that HIV prevention and education methods are effectively reaching target populations of individuals at the greatest risk of transmission. The report also shows that certain communities continue to be hit harder by the disease than others, especially gay and bisexual men of all races who make up 92 percent of new cases. in addition, all racial/ethnic male populations saw a decrease in cases except African born men, who saw a 31 percent increase. And women of color continue to be at risk, with women of color accounting for 81 percent of new cases among women. These statistics demonstrate that there is still a great deal of work to be done to show declines in all communities. Education, outreach and testing continue to play a critical role in reducing the risk of transmission. Connected to HIV transmission rates is a trend in early syphilis cases seen among gay and bisexual men. this increase over the last ten years indicates the need for additional behavioral interventions and educational campaigns in the state. “While the decrease in new HIV cases in the state is encouraging and shows that our prevention efforts are working, the steady increase among gay and bisexual men of all races as well as the co-infection rates with syphilis demonstrates that our work is not complete,” said Bill Tiedemann, executive director of the Minnesota AIDS Project. “The prevention, testing and education efforts of the Minnesota AIDS Project are a critical piece of a community wide effort of stopping HIV. but we'll need to continue to invest in risk reduction programs that target those at the greatest risk of infection.” For additional information, contact Melissa Conway at 612-373-9164 or . Summary: HIV prevention and education methods are effectively reaching target populations of individuals at the greatest risk of transmission. there is still a great deal of work to be done to show declines in all communities. Education, outreach and testing continue to play a critical role in reducing the risk of transmission. About Minnesota AIDS Project The Minnesota AIDS Project's mission is to lead Minnesota's fight to stop HIV through prevention, advocacy, awareness, and services. mnaidsproject.org. Contact: Melissa Conway 612-373-9164 desk 612-298-0214 SOURCE Minnesota AIDS Project

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Morgellons Disease Symptoms: What Causes the Unknown Skin Disease?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 11:06:06 +0000

Thousands of people experience symptoms and describe that they have been infected with Morgellons. However, until today there still has been no accurate explanation as to what really is the reason behind the cause of the mysterious disease, and how one gets afflicted. Scientists, doctors, and researchers continue to struggle with how to find out exact information about the disease. Unfortunately, morgellons is not registered a medical diagnosis by the health industry thus patients can be misdiagnosed with common skin infections like scabies, Lyme disease, liver or kidney disease involving or the belief of the infestation by parasites (delusional parasitosis).Morgellons disease was first identified by Sir Thomas Browne in 1674. recently, in 2002 by Mary Leitao, describing a type of skin disorder that was later referred by the Centers for Disease Control as “Unexplained dermopathy”. The name was coined to the disorder by Leitao after her son developed sores that no medical professionals she consulted was able to explain.Because of the scarcity of data available about the disorder, for the most part medical experts commonly associate Morgellons disease to other skin disorders. others are falsely categorized as to have been infected with Delusional Parasitosis.sufferers claim morgellons disease symptoms as affecting both the physical and mental process of a person. these symptoms can develop in both adults and children. However, with the slow progress in the study of the disease, patients continue to rely mostly on diagnosis and treatment provided by other individuals without the consent of the medical industry. Additionally, because of the rising awareness of morgellons disease, victims in 15 other countries have also emerged.Individuals report common morgellons disease symptoms affecting their physical state and provided by independent researchers include:* Skin irritations that can cause severe itching* Development of multicolored fiber-like strands in and on the skin* Itching and burning sensation of the skin that often times leads an individual to develop the sensation of insects crawling under the skin* Fatigue* Hair loss* Swelling of the joint* Vision change* Headaches* Sudden weight lossSymptoms of the disease affecting a person’s mental condition include:* Short-term memory loss* Loss of focus on things* Behavioral changes* Depression* Signs of neurological problemsHaving trouble with some strange signs and symptoms? This could be the time that you may have to set an appointment with your doctor for to take a look at the skin irritations. what you thought is a common skin problem, could be a serious condition that until now is still beyond anyone’s comprehension.

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Do older adults need to practice safe sex? – Ask Doctor K, Harvard Medical School

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:51:18 +0000

Posted April 20, 2012, 9:37 am DEAR DOCTOR K:I’m a single, postmenopausal woman in my 50s. Do I still need to worry about “safe” sex?DEAR READER:I’m surprised by how often my patients ask me the same question. “Safe” sex means using what doctors call “barrier protection” — male or female condoms.It is true that menopause brings freedom from worries about pregnancy (if your doctor is sure you have entered menopause). but menopause doesn’t change at all your need to practice safe sex. That’s particularly true if you’re entering into a new relationship or have multiple sexual partners. Even postmenopausal women need to worry about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs include particularly HIV, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, the papillomaviruses that can cause cervical cancer, chancroid (a bacterial infection), hepatitis and trichomonas.That’s right: There are a lot of them. STIs can be passed between women and their partners of either sex through vaginal, oral or anal sex.Male condoms have been studied for many years. There is no doubt that they decrease the risk of transmitting all of the STIs. Some of the STIs — particularly syphilis, chancroid, herpes and papillomavirus — can affect the skin of the genitals that is not covered by condoms. so the protection against these infections from condoms is not quite as good as with the other STIs. but still, there is no doubt that male condoms greatly reduce the risk of STIs.Female condoms also reduce the risk of STIs, although there are fewer studies of their effectiveness than there are with male condoms.Does a woman who has entered menopause really need to worry about STIs? You sure do. In fact, postmenopausal women are more vulnerable to STIs than younger women. After menopause, the vaginal and cervical tissues get thinner. this makes the vaginal lining vulnerable to developing small tears and scratches, providing places for STIs to enter the body. also, your immune response declines with age, making it harder to fight off an STI.As a result, using a condom to prevent STIs continues to be important, even after menopause.If you’re starting a new relationship, consider the following suggestions. You may have heard them back in your teens or 20s, but they still apply today.First, if there’s any chance you might have sex with someone you’ve just met, carry condoms with you. Don’t have sex if your partner refuses to use a condom.Second, if you’ve recently met someone you think you might want to have sex with someday, talk to your potential partner about your views on safe sex. It may feel awkward, but it’s important to discuss the issue of safe sex well before you’re about to have sex.Many of my patients get a thorough medical exam, including formal tests for STIs, before they start a new sexual relationship. sometimes they ask me to write them a letter stating that the testing shows that they have no sexually transmissible diseases. once an older male patient, a widower, invited me to his wedding. He said, “You ought to be there, doctor, because there wouldn’t be a wedding without your letter.”

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The most individuals with Genital Herpes infection have no idea they have got it

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:27:05 +0000

People normally have some misconception once they mention herpes, it generally brings to mind “STD”; a sexually transmitted disease that is certainly incurable and gives the individual that has infected with that virus an overall bad trustworthiness of having several sex partners and engaging in various sexual activities. Herpes would always bring a great deal apprehension, fear and worry and also stress to a person who had experienced those uncomfortable feelings on their sex organs.Herpes is really a viral infection caused by herpes virus. There are two varieties of hsv simplex virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Oral herpes is normally due to HSV-1 and its symptoms are cold sores and fever blisters round the mouth. Herpes is due to the 2nd type of herpes simplex virus, HSV-2. it is just a disease that affects the region throughout the genitals and anus and appears as painful blisters, redness, burning, and itching around the skin. it can be basically transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Roughly, every One out of 4 adults in britain has herpes. however, 90% of individuals don’t even know that they may be infected by the hsv simplex virus and can be spreading chlamydia without knowing about it.Genital herpes – The silent diseaseHerpes virus (HSV-2) usually stays dormant in your body for quite some time without causing any symptoms. Based on Herpes Guide, the virus injects its DNA into a nerve cell within A day of its infection and stays there rolling around in its latent form. Every time a trigger re-activates the HSV-2, it replicates itself and spreads along the nerve pathways for the skin where it causes symptoms.Symptoms of herpesPeople often wonder about various triggers that can cause an outbreak of herpes. A few of the common triggers are exposure to the sun, friction or damage to the genitals, stress or anxiety, fatigue, and excessive drinking. A lot of people can experience warning signs indicating the start herpes outbreak. These signs may appear at the website in which the outbreak will occur or perhaps other parts from the body. as these warning signs and symptoms change from one individual to another, you should identify what the body is signaling you. like that, you can manage the outbreak of symptoms better.Herpes might be non-sexually transmittedIt is assumed that genital herpes is transmitted by sexual activities. But as it is known that direct skin-to-skin contacts will be the obvious ways which permit the herpes virus to pass in one person to a different, an infected person can shed the herpes virus from his/her skin even when there won’t be any visible symptoms. though, genital herpes cannot enter the body unless there’s a cut or open wound onto the skin and touching isn’t more likely to create a herpes infection.What many people don’t know is that an easy act of kissing can transmit herpes infection. When the areas of the body which might be shedding the virus get rubbed off against someone else’s mouth, the herpes simplex virus can get transmitted fot it person. so kissing can’t only cause fever blisters, but genital herpes also.Antiviral treatmentAntiviral medications are which can control and treat herpes symptoms if taken as directed by doctors. Famvir can be an antiviral prescription drugs for your treatment or suppression of genital herpes and treatment of cold sores. Medicines cannot cure herpes, in case taken at the first signs and symptoms, it could prevent recurrent herpes outbreaks. Valtrex is yet another antiviral medication that’s great at treating full-blown outbreak of herpes. it is also taken for fever blisters strategy for three days. Similarly, Valtrex can be taken for zoster strategy for 1 week. You should consult a doctor for that appropriate dosage of the medications to be able to receive an effective herpes treatment.Testing of Herpes

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HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: Moving toward a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:21:07 +0000

By Deb LeBel, Partnerships Specialist, AIDS.gov Tomorrow (May 18th) is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD). This annual observance is a day for education about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research. and, on this day, we pause to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine.The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health is the lead organizer for this day and the HIV Vaccine Awareness Day web site contains many resources to help community members support the day. To learn more about HIV/AIDS and the federal response including federally-funded research, visit AIDS.govPlease read and share the 2012 HVAD press statement from Dr. Fauci, Director of NIAID (also available in Spanish).HIV Vaccine Awareness DayMay 18, 2012Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthThere is a growing consensus that we can significantly curtail the HIV/AIDS pandemic by implementing scientifically proven HIV prevention strategies, such as voluntary medically supervised adult male circumcision, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and treatment as prevention. With 2.7 million new HIV infections in 2010 alone, however, it is likely that controlling and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic will require an effective vaccine as well. This past year, there have been a number of encouraging findings on this front.Last month, a detailed analysis of specimens from the first HIV vaccine clinical trial to show a modest protective effect yielded important clues about how the vaccine might have worked. these clues suggest directions for improving upon the original vaccine regimen to confer a broader, more potent and longer-lasting effect. The original vaccine regimen was tested among 16,000 adult volunteers in Thailand in a trial co-funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of NIH.Meanwhile, several other NIAID-sponsored HIV vaccine clinical trials are under way. The largest of these is examining whether a prime-boost vaccine regimen can prevent HIV infection or reduce the amount of virus in the blood of those participants who become infected despite vaccination. these trials are possible because of the generous contributions of time and effort by thousands of study participants, community educators, health care workers and scientists. all those involved deserve our gratitude.Preclinical animal model studies of HIV infection recently have uncovered valuable leads toward designing a preventive HIV vaccine. Scientists have demonstrated that a vaccine can prevent a virulent monkey version of HIV infection and have shown a correlation between this protection and the presence of specific antibodies to the virus.In basic HIV vaccine research, scientists are discovering and studying HIV neutralizing antibodies that shield cells in the lab against infection with a wide array of HIV strains collected from infected people worldwide. Researchers are analyzing the structure and evolution of these antibodies and the manner in which they bind to HIV, and are using this information to design new molecules to elicit the antibodies through vaccination. in related experiments, injecting these antibodies directly into monkeys has been shown to prevent infection from a monkey version of HIV. Based on these findings, studies to test this concept in people are being planned.All of these advances reinforce our confidence that one day we will succeed at creating a safe, highly effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection. To contain and ultimately halt the HIV/AIDS pandemic, even the most effective vaccine must be part of a combination of medical and behavioral HIV prevention tools. That is why NIAID continues to support research into promising HIV prevention strategies, such as vaginal and rectal microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and expanded HIV testing with linkage to care. That is also why the public health community will continue to refine and implement scientifically proven HIV prevention measures, including condom use, harm-reduction strategies for injection drug users, and, notably, treatment as prevention: giving antiretroviral therapy to HIV-infected individuals to dramatically reduce their infectiousness while protecting their health.Vaccines historically have been the single most important tool for controlling epidemics. With an ongoing commitment to HIV vaccine research, we have the potential to radically change the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., is Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.Media inquiries can be directed to the NIAID Office of Communications at 301-402-1663, gov.

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Benue, Borno record 616,396 HIV/AIDS cases, 2,384 TB, 158 lepers

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:12:06 +0000

By Peter Duru & Ndahi MaramaMAKURDI—Benue and Borno states have expressed alarm over the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the areas put at 616,396. Benue State Government made this known as the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya, asked the Federal Government to establish more hospitals to handle the issue in the state, while Borno State blamed the high incidence of the disease on the past administrations’ lack of interest in combating its spread.StatisticsThe Commissioner for Health in Benue State, Dr. Orduen Abunku, said there were 600,000 cases of HIV/AIDS in the area, while his Borno State counterpart, Dr. Salma Kolo, put the figure at 16,396, with 2,384 others suffering from tuberculosis, and 158 were leprosy patients.The Medical Director who spoke to newsmen, yesterday, in Makurdi, said the call for establishment of more hospitals became necessary in view of the high burden of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, tuberculosis, among others, which he said were more pronounced across Benue State.Oyigeya lamented that the state lagged behind in the establishment of health institutions, noting that many states with lesser population of HIV/AIDS cases than Benue had more than two or three Federal Government health institutions. he said one federal hospital was not enough for the population of the state.He said: “Benue has 4.6 million people and Edo, for instance, has 3.2 million. Whereas Edo has three federal hospitals, two teaching hospitals and a psychiatric hospital, Benue bears the heaviest disease burden in the country, apart from hepatitis, tuberculosis, among others. so we de-serve a federal infectious disease hospital.”

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Low back pain and Herpes Simplex

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:09:11 +0000

Posted on January 5, 2012 The condition can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or even what is commonly referred to as Supports. the viral infections is not necessary transmitted through sexual engagements. Instead, the viral an infection can develop from T-cells. the illness is a defect while in the T-cells that mediate the resistance system and makes it possible for the development of this human opportunistic viral infection. the disease is life threatening once the immunity system is minimal, since it is characterized by germs of a junior ailment.The disease is not necessary serious, yet it can become the cause, or pathogenic and/or life threatening when a host has lowered the immunity level. HIV (Hiv) can cause herpes simplex in order to develop. if during testing doctors discover Aids viral infections, which co-exists by using one or more pointer germs, such as herpes simplex, mycobacterium, cytomegalovirus, and/or candidal viral infections, thus the condition is labeled deadly. Herpes simplex causes lower back pain, for the reason that disease erupts when the inner thoughts and physical capacities are put to the analyze. the musculoskeletal right here intensified and/or exacerbated. during testing experts find dementia, wasting patterns, Kaposi sarcoma, and also pneumoncystis. Dementia is an intellectual and cognitive deteriorating affliction that progresses because it carries onto the human brain where movement is controlled and senses are restrained. Forgetfulness occurs when dementia is present. Blood stream transfusions, using contaminated tiny needles, infected uterus body, etc can cause Human immunodeficiency virus, or herpes simplex in order to emerge. Semen get hold of, secretions from the vagina, sexual intercourse, and handling secretions on the vagina and semen can cause HIV. When a person is exposed to infected body fluids or blood it puts these folks at risk of HIV. HIV affects the lymphocytes, that travels in ejaculation and secretions from the vaginal canal. Blood carries your viral infection likewise. When HIV can be, present it offers lymphocyte infections into secretions from the vagina and sperm while transporting the idea to small fails in the mucosa membrane plus the skin. HIV moves and expands within retroviruses that infect discerning cells, especially those that incorporate CD-4. Antigen carries CD-4, which sets at the surface. Your lymphocytes are primarily T-4s. now, HIV will reproduce within the T skin cells or lymphocytes and begin doing damage to the cells. the devastation of the T-cells damage muscle tissues, joints, etc, which in turn causes resistance abilities to lower. Symptoms:Symptoms may include fatigue, anorexia, weakness, weight loss, fevers, recurrent diarrhea, pallor, malnutrition, night sweats, lymphadenopathy, dementia, dilemma, and disorientation. Whenever herpes simplex has not evolved into AIDS (Not that it’ll in all cases), the acne outbreaks often occur erratically, and causes tingling along with burning sensations in the vagina or penile region. A greenish-yellow release will follow. the indications will start, skip three months, and develop yet again if the patient is usually overly distressed. Health professionals usually treat hsv simplex virus simplex by using medications, just like acyclovir. In extreme herpes simplex cases chronic agony occurs, which industry experts will inject medication into the body? (Transcutaneous) the action causes an exhilarating nerve simulation (TENS), which relieves soreness stemming from genital herpes simplex. The pain sometimes kids bedroom furniture will be excruciating. if genital herpes simplex develops into Aids the pain can intensify still, since the white and red blood lowrance cells will be affected, as well as transaminase, enzymes, in addition to alkaline phosphatase. the disease herpes simplex can on occasion limit mobility resulting from excessive pain. during this event, you will need to relaxation your body, and view your doctor as soon as possible.

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Gonorrhea Test

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:03:07 +0000

Testing vaginal pH is a quantitative test that measures how acidic the vaginal secretions of a woman are. this test is done in order to help a women check and evaluate if the vaginal symptoms such as itching, burning, unpleasant odor, or the unusual discharge are more likely to cause infection and if it needs further medical treatment. Why Test for Vaginal pH? If youre a woman and you are experiencing any abnormal vaginal symptoms such as the ones earlier mentioned, be sure to check and test your vaginal pH. this will help you decide if you need any medical treatment. but you must also be warned that testing for vaginal pH will not help you in diagnosing infections like:* HIV * Chlamydia * Herpes * Gonorrhea * Syphilis * Group B streptococcus Testing your vaginal pH will help you rule out any possible vaginal infections before you decide to go under medication and treatment. this will also help you in evaluating the diagnosis of the doctor. The Accuracy of Testing Vaginal pH Testing for vaginal pH will show you a good agreement with the doctors diagnosis. but you must know that if there are changes in the vaginal pH this will not mean that you also have infection. the pH changes do not differentiate on type of infection from the other, and it is the doctor that gives diagnosis. Women are often guilty of making their own diagnosis and charging themselves with illnesses. it is a must to first contact your doctor if there really is an infection. Testing the vaginal pH only detects abnormalities, it does not detect the actual infection. Interpreting the Vaginal pH Test When your vaginal pH test becomes positive, this is not an indication of infection. the acidity might occur for other reasons and you need to see a doctor for further testing. the same goes for having negative results. it doesnt necessarily mean that negative results dont imply an infection. if you have no symptoms, the negative test could indicate some other possibilities like yeast infection. again, you need professional help in detecting if you have an infection. Vaginal pH test kits and how to use them Vaginal pH kits available in the market are used and performed similarly to tests that are done to you by doctors in the clinic. but the doctors can provide you with a more complete and thorough assessment of your vaginal status by taking a look into your history, physical exams, and other laboratory tests. The home vaginal pH kits include a pH test paper and a color chart that helps in determining vaginal pH results. In performing the test, you must hold the pH paper against the wall of the vagina for a few seconds and compare the color of the results to the color in the pH paper. there are colors that match exactly the ones on the chart, and you should choose the color that closely resembles your result.About the author Florida Abortion Clinic. Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Abortion Clinic Florida in March 1996 to provide a full range of health care for women, including second Abortion Clinic, physical examinations, family planning, counseling, laboratory services and sexually transmitted disease screening and counseling. Source: articlesalley.com/article.detail.php/90077/184/Pregnancy_and_Family_Planning/Family/31/Vaginal_pH%3A_An_Overview

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Talking about the end of AIDS

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:57:07 +0000

NEW YORK — Some 30 years after the discovery of the HIV virus, the talk around AIDS has changed dramatically in the last few months. It’s all about the end game — even if major doubts exist in many corners about whether the talk is just that, and whether enough funds and political commitment can lead to a breakthrough. At the GBCHealth Conference in new York City on Monday, panelists at a session titled AIDS@30 were asked how they would fulfill US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s call late last year for an “AIDS-free generation.” “Thirty years of this epidemic is really too long,” said John Tedstrom, President and CEO of GBCHealth. “A little virus, clever as it is, has outwitted and outfoxed the smartest people in the world. we are within grasp of what Secretary of State Clinton has said of virtually ending HIV/AIDS.” More from GlobalPost: US reveals nearly $1.5 billion in unspent AIDS money Ambassador Eric Goosby, the US global AIDS coordinator, said the key will likely be a combination HIV prevention strategy. It includes expansion of treatment to help prevent new infections; major scale-up of male circumcision; and treating all HIV-positive pregnant women to end the transmission of HIV from mother to child. “We’re moving away from low-impact to high-impact prevention interventions,” Goosby said. he said that when 70 to 85 percent of those infected with HIV in a country are on treatment, the number of infections starts to decrease. “we will see more people going on antiretroviral therapy than becoming infected by HIV. When that moment occurs, and we’re probably a couple of years away from it, the …. drop in infections with be steep.” Brian Brink, Anglo American’s chief medical officer, said his mining company learned over time that the cost of AIDS treatment was just 5 percent of its fight against the virus. The big ticket costs: 40 percent in reduced productivity and 40 percent in payment of benefits when workers become sick or die. More from GlobalPost: Kenyans want AIDS windfall to stay in country “we know by investing in treatment, and treating the infection early and effectively, we contain the cost of AIDS,” Brink said. “It’s a no-brainer.” Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS’ executive director, said the way to defeat AIDS had to include more financial contributions from developing countries. “It’s important to pay attention to sustainability,” he said. “we are putting more people on treatment and scaling up programs, but we are seeing also a time of stabilization of the level of resources, so it’s important to be innovative. Today in Africa, 90 percent of budgets for treatment of AIDS come from PEPFAR or the Global Fund. that is not sustainable.” The conference, which attracted roughly 400 business, government, and NGO leaders, also heard a story from the field: Tlalane Phofoli, a site coordinator in Lesotho for mothers2mothers, an NGO that is working to reduce HIV transmission from mother to child. Phofoli, who is HIV positive, gave birth to a girl, who is HIV negative and healthy. More from GlobalPost: A Q&A with US global AIDS coordinator Eric Goosby “All of a sudden things have changed,” Phofoli said, referring to the expansion of AIDS treatment, including programs to treat pregnant women. “there is hope and there is a future. In the last couple of years, we have learned that treating AIDS means it is less likely to be transmitted.” She applauded a plan by the US government and the Global Fund to end HIV infection of newborns and babies by 2015. “With treatment, mothers can celebrate a great Mother’s Day,” she said. “I have become a role model in my community, helping my sisters stay safe on their own and protecting their babies. we have come so far.” The end of pediatric AIDS, “will be something for the history books,” she said. “together we can make the global plan to eliminate pediatric AIDS by 2015 come true, and keep mothers alive.” globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/talking-about-the-end-aids <… Delivering on delivery: Nepali mothers out of danger | TB: A 'catastrophe' that needs a vaccine …>

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