1 November, 1975

HIGH GEAR

By Matt Phillips

The New Venereal Disease

Page 7

Herpes simplex type 2, a veneral disease once considered a minor problem, is becoming increasingly more prominent. Last summer the Cleveland Free Clinic reported an average of two new cases a week. According to Today's Health (March, 1975) herpes is now more common than syphilis and spreading more rapidly than gonorrhea. Unlike these more famous venereal diseases, the long term effects of herpes are unknown and treatment can only try to contain the infection; a total cure has not been discovered.

Herpes is caused by a viral infection similar to the one that causes cold sores (herpes type 1). Like a cold sore, the primary symptom is a painful sore at the point of infection. The lesion tends to be very irritating and any subsequent scratching could spread the infection. Un-fortunately, the initial blisterlike lesions disappear in two to four weeks, and there is no 'convenient test for herpes' presence as there is for syphilis and gonorrhea. Fortunately, the disease can only be transmitted during periods of active infection, when there is an open sore, but these may occur again unexpectedly. During the dormant periods the virus retreats to the nerve endings and is undetectable in the blood. These reeruptions occur on an average of 4 or 5 times during the first year of infection and can be caused, according to Tom Kelly of the J. Glenn Smith Health Center, by "a traumatic experience, perhaps the death of a loved one: any emotional up-

set could trigger a reoccurrence. Another sexual contact could also trigger the in-

fection. We do know that the longer you have it, the more infrequent become the OC-

currences."

At present, herpes is a disease for life; there is no cure. All medical treatment is directed toward pushing the virus into its dormant, noninfectious state and relieving the discomfort during periods of active infection. An antibiotic ointment will accomplish the second task, but there is still disagreement about treatment. Some doctors use ether to limit the length of time that someone has a lesion. Others paint the infected region with a special red dye and then expose it to light. In Germany doctors use a drug to treat herpes, but in the United States physicians claim it has not been adequately tested.

Both of the last two treatments have come under fire because of their possible link with cancer. However, there is the same problem with herpes, itself. Studies have been done, said Tom Kelly, "linking herpes with uterine cancer and they say there is as much evidence to prove that as there is cancer in cigarette smoking. So, you can take your choice. There also has been the possibility that herpes could be linked with cancer of the prostrate in males."

Besides the danger of cancer, herpes is a potential problem during childbirth. If the mother has an undetected case of herpes (sometimes the symptoms are internal and the disease is, in effect, asymptomatic) the disease may be passed on to the newborn child. If herpes has infected more than the skin, chances for survival are listed at 025%. Even then, there is a great chance for permanent brain damage.

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Food For Thought

"The Equal Rights Amendment will pave the way for federal gay rights legislation."

Jean O'Leary, Lesbian/Feminist.

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt, President.

"Everytime I'm in a group of non-gay men, I feel I am teaching language to a group of illiterates."

Deloros Noll, Lesbian/Activist.

"Gay progress is slow, but it is ever thus in all movements." Merle Miller, Gay Author.

"I'd much rather be with the boys."

Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones.

"There is a growing disenchantment with disenchantment." Lloyd Dobson, Anchorman for NBC's Weekend

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