OUR BODIES, OUR MINDS..

by

Harvey Thompson, M.D. "VD is NOT Valentine's Day" Cupid's arrows may be laced with more than love. There are now enough sexually-transmitted diseases (STD's) for a disease-a-day plan this month. Tou might say that in a large city like San Francisco, you could have a different lover and a different disease each night. Here's a list of what to avoid, day by day.

Feb.1st Syphilis: a delicate corkscrew-shaped organism that begins its infection on the skin, then spreads through the body over weeks, months, years.

Feb. 2nd Gonorrhea: an infection caused by nieserria gonorrhea that is usually limited to the site of inoculation with resultant secondary inflamation and pus.

Feb. 3rd Chlamydia: a protean infection that manifests itself in different ways, but most commonly known as a major cause of nonspecific urethritis, or NSU. This is usually a diagnosis of exclusion (when it's not gonorrhea.)

Feb. 4th Shigella: a bacterium that usually causes severe diarrhea with an abrupt onset and high fever shortly after oral contamination by fecal material.

Feb. 5th Salmonella: a bacterium that also causes diarrhea, symptoms similar to shigella. Less common as a veneral disease since it requires a larger inoculum.

Feb. 6th Campylobacter (fetus sp. jejuni): This bacterium is increasingly recognized as another bacterial cause of diarrhea and requires specific antibiotic treatment different from the previous two bacteria.

Feb. 7th Hemophilus Ducreyi: Chancroid is uncommon, but it happens. It's characterized by ragged, tender ulcers of the genitals with sore lymph nodes.

Feb. 8th Calymmatobacterium Granulomatis: This rare infection (a few dozen cases in the United States last year) is called granuloma inguinale, and appears as 18 ACTION FEB 83

distinct ulcers in the peranal area.

Feb. 9th Gardnerella Hemophilus: This organism has changed its name three times, but continues to cause a malodorous vaginal infection that produces little associated discharge.

Feb. 10th Listeria Monocytogenes: Man can carry this bacterium in his intestines, infecting others through fecal contamination. Results may be blood poisoning or even a rare form of meningitis.

Feb. 11th Nieserria Meningitidis: This "cousin" of gonorrhea can cause symptoms similar to the urethritis seen in GC.

Feb. 12th Strep Infection: Not commonly included among STD lists, but strep pharyngitis and pyodermas (skin infection) occasionally seem to be sex-related.

Now, after spending nearly two weeks with only the bacteria, you can graduate to the viruses:

Feb. 13th Herpes Virus: Both types I and II can cause genital blisters or even rectal infections. Herpes is more a disease of the media, selling lots of magazines and air time; its importance in the Gay community pales in comparison to some of the other STD's listed here.

Feb. 14th Pox viruses: Molluscum Contagiosum are small dimpled bumps a few millimeters in size that are usually self-limited, and found about the genitalia and perineum.

Feb. 15th Papovavirus: Venereal warts are caused by this virus, occuring about the ano-genital area, and resisting treatment. No one is certain about just how contagious they are, although you'll read otherwise.

Feb. 16th Hepatitis-A: This RNA virus is NOT the same as the cause of the more serious Hepatitis-8. It is the type fecally transmitted, and had no chronic form nor carrier state.

Feb. 17th Hepatitis-B: This DNA virus is the type transmitted by fluid exchange and does have serious chronic forms and a carrier state. It could be eradicated if everyone

susceptible took the vaccine. Feb. 18th Cytomegalovirus: This virus may be a culprit in the current AIDS problem (see below). It is ubiquitous in the Gay community, but can probaly cause a mononucleosis-like state for which there is no treatment.

Better than halfway through the month, but there are hazards than bacteria and viruses!

Feb. 19thTrichomonas Vaginalis: This protozoa causes an itchy, malodorous vaginal inflammation in women, but can equally cause irritation and burning in the urinary outlets of either sex.

Feb. 20th Entamoeba Histolytica: This parasite can live happily within the colon of the host, or, at its worst, can cause bloody diarrhea and fever.

Feb. 21st Giardia Lamblia: This parasite lives higher up in the small intestines and can cause frequent loose bowel movements.

Feb. 22nd Candida Albicans: When it's in the mouth, candida is called "thrush". In the vagina, it's called "yeast" infection. When it causes skin infection beneath the foreskin or on the head of the penis, it's called "balanitis". When it infects a person with AIDS, it's an "opportunistic" infection. In any case, it's still the same fungus.

How about a few little friends you can see?

Feb. 23rd Pthirus Pubis: Crabs are those freckles that move who picnic in the pubic forest.

Feb. 24th Sarcoptes Scabies: This mite gets under the skin and moves about, causing intense itching which gets worse at night.

Feb. 25th Enterobiasis: Pinworms infect ONLY humans, causing anal itching when the ingested egg hatches in that area, and larvae begin to migrate about.

Feb. 26th Trichuris Trichuria: The human whipworm has been found in about 2% of Gay men; it is often asymptomatic, but can cause weight loss and diarrhea.

Feb. 27th Strongylodiasis: A roundworm infection of the upper intestines that can cause cough as it passes through the lungs or abdominal symptoms when the adult females lodge in the mucosa of the bowel. 4% of Gay males are said to carry this.

But the big news in the Gay community is our own syndrome:

Feb. 28th AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is of unknown cause, possibly the result of a yetunknown virus or the onslaught of all-of-the-above on the immune system. It seems to be sexually transmitted in a fashion similar to Hepatitis-8 through blood recipients, IV drug abusers, Gay sex. Some conditions associated with AIDS are:

Kaposi's Sarcoma: This formerly rare cancer must be added to the list of sexually transmitted diseases, though it could be just opportunistic on the background of AIDS. Pneumocystitis Carinii: Again, this "Gay pneumonia" is probably not actually sexually transmitted, but strikes those AIDS patients who haven't the normal defenses to resist this otherwise ubiquitous organism.

Cryptosporidium: A parasite causing diarrhea in animals lately noted in humans, especially among AIDS patients who can't seem to control the infestation.

Taking care is the best way to avoid any of these. If you're manifesting any symtoms, stay home. Even at the most selfish, you'll avoid spreading something that might just make the great circle and come right back to you. And, it seems that the more stress you place on your immune system, the more likely a canidate for AIDS you may become.

Like they say on Hill Street 8lues Be careful out there! Stonewall Features Syndicate, 1983

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