VD Epidemic Hits Cleveland

"We have a big problem here in Cleveland, not only with gonorrhea, but with syphilis. Syphilis is increasing much more so than in the past," especially in the gay community, according to Tom Kelly, Director of VD Control, Cleveland Division of Health. "We estimate there is a new case of gonorrhea every 12 seconds in the United States." Gonorrhea is currently the most commonly reported communicable disease; syphilis is fourth. At the Free Clinic nurse Kathy Batterson says, "About a third of the patients that come here either have a VD or suspect that they have a VD."

There are many reasons for these epidemic proportions in Cleveland. One of the major ones is that, unfortunately, both syphilis and gonorrhea are often asymptomatic; a person can have the disease and not even know it. Ms. Batterson warns that although in males gonorrhea may cause "an irritation of the urethra, the lining of the penis" and cause "a discharge and painful urination," gonorrhea in the rectum "doesn't usually cause symptoms. In the throat it causes a slight sore throat, and it might cause a swelling of the ...voice box, which makes you get a little horse. In the vagina it goes into the cervix in the female; it doesn't usually. cause symptoms." Likewise, syphilis is known as the great imitator. An old adage says that "the physician who can diagnose syphilis knows medicine." Besides a painless sore at the point of infection, symptoms can also masquerade as a rash, falling hair, or even a hemorrhoid-like condition. Even these obvious symptoms soon disappear without treatment while the person still has the infection. "If everyone had a big old sore that hurt like hell, there is no question," says Mr. Kelly," that everyone would seek medical attention."

But, everyone does not seek the needed attention. Even when they

fear that they have contracted VD, many people are embarrassed to see their physician. Some doctors are even reluctant to mention the subject. Ms. Batterson feels, "venereal diseases are treated differently from other diseases. That's the big problem; it's treated as a social problem...The thing that I think is going to make the difference is when the whole group will discuss this more openly."

DO YOU HAVE VD?

The only way to be sure whether or not you have VD is by having VD tests. (These are available free at clinics listed later in this article). Syphilis is the easiest to detect after its incubation period by a blood test. Testing for gonorrhea is more difficult. As Tom Kelly describes it, "There is only one way we can detect if someone has gonorrhea and that's to obtain a cotton swab specimen of the area where someone has come in contact with someone else.

Gonorrhea, as opposed to syphillis is a local infection and does not spread through the body.. So, it would be a good idea for someone to have an oral, or a rectal, or a urethral culture, depending on how one has sex." If there is a positive reaction to the tests, free medical care is available at both the Cleveland VD clinic and the Free Clinic.

WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?

Since many gay people are worried about the confidentiality of their reports because of job security, we asked about this issue. At the J. Glenn Smith Health Center, "contrary to what many people have heard, we try to operate confidentially in every single situation...We don't care how a person has sex...We want to try and make sure that everyone whom that person has come in contact with gets proper medical attention.

There is no such thing as an

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STATE YOU ARE OVER 21

isolated case of VD.

"There is sometimes a reluctance to cooperate. Many times there may be legitimate reasons...When someone sits down and talks to us about the people they have come in contact with, once we contact that person, no way is the name of the person that gave the information used."

Throughout a visit at J. Glenn Smith, the patient is referred to by a number issued when the person registers. Although the registration forms request information about employers, Mr. Kelly says, "There is no one who is going to refuse them treatment if they don't want to give that information out."

Sandy, a worker at the Free Clinic says, "Our major emphasis here is on the individual, who is here, really understanding what the disease is, and, through the person's own understanding and education about it, trying to enlist their cooperation in notifying contacts." According to state law even minors over the age of twelve can be treated confidentially without parental consent.

Notifying the contacts is one of the most important steps in the control of VD. According to Ms. Batterson, "One of the major things with VD is the contact. If a person doesn't tell the person that he or she caught it from, then that person will infect another person. There is no way to get rid of the disease unless all the contacts are treated. That's the reason China wiped out VD, both syphilis and gonorrhea. They wiped off all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases because it became a community "help your brother" campaign. They had mass contact tracing."

PREVENTION

Once a person has contracted syphilis or gonorrhea, the cure is easy and effective. With most people penicillin is the prescribed drug, and for those allergic to penicillin, tetracycline is used.

Prevention, of course, is always better than a cure. There is "one sure fire way that I know of where no one ever has to worry about catching VD," says Tom Kelly, "and that is complete abstinence. I don't think there are many people' capable of doing that. But, seriously....as much as people may detest using a condom (rubber), it can prevent people from catching VD. (The spread of anal syphilis and gonorrhea can be prevented in this way.) Not as complex, would be simply to wash just as soon after you've had sex as possible and to try to urinate. You may be able, in some cases, to wash the infection out of the urethra...Gargling like hell (with mouth wash) just might do the trick. I'm not saying it's a sure fire thing, but it certainly isn't going to hurt."

When asked about prevention, Ms. Batterson replied, "Number one, not having sex with someone

By MATT PHILLIPS

that has an open sore on their mouth or genitals, not having sex with anyone that has a pussy discharge from the penis, and when someone has been treated for VD, notifying your sexual partners of the fact."

Still, the best way to get VD under control is for everyone who has ever had any sexual contact (some VD can be passed while kissing an infected person) to have all appropriate tests. Since these tests are not routinely administered, they must be requested either from your physician or at a clinic. VD is not something to be ashamed of, it is something to be cured!!! If we all have our blood tests and various gonorrhea cultures, we will be well along the road to eradicating VD and halting the epidemic that has hit our entire country.

FOR MORE VD INFORMATION AND TESTS: Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland -721-4010, 12201 Euclid Avenue. Patients are taken on a first come, first served basis. Patients should arrive early. Sign-in starts at 5:30 p.m.

VD Hotline-621-2191

J. Glenn Smith Health Center -2494100, 11100 St. Clair Avenue (at E. 111st)

Thomas J. McCafferty Health Center-651-5005, 4242 Lorain Avenue (at W. 42nd)

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Miles-Broadway Clinic 883-3260, 9127 Miles Avenue.

Free V.D. Testing

Free testing for VD is available for gay men at the Club Cleveland, 1448 West 32 Street, in Cleveland. Purchase of a locker or room is necessary for entry to the club, but the test is free. For information concerning dates and times, call 6319702.

Gay VD Blues

Channel 25 (Lorain) will be airing a rerun of the VD Blues on October 3rd, in the late evening. Representatives of the Cleveland department of Public Health will be conducting a panel discussion following the showing, and will have people from different communities on the show with them. A thirty minute portion of the show will cover the VD problem in the gay community, and representatives of the gay community will be on the air, to answer questions concerning gay health care in relation to VD.