Preventing and Treating STIs and HIV / AIDS Chapter 24

Treatment and Prevention What is the most successful way to prevent STIs? To help stay committed to abstinence: Set personal limits on physical affection Avoid dating someone who is sexually active or who pressures you to go beyond your limits Avoid situations where you feel pressured to engage in sexual activity Choose group outings where you can enjoy the company of friends and avoid pressure to engage in sexual activity Be clear about your decision to practice abstinence; practice refusal skills Avoid people who make fun of your decision or urge high-risk behaviors

Understanding the Risk Each month, about 750,000 teens are diagnosed with STIs High-risk age group because: Teens are not aware of the information Teens feel embarrassed to discuss sex Many teens are unaware of a partner’s past behavior

Avoiding High-Risk Behavior Avoiding these high-risk behaviors can help prevent STIs: Being sexually active with more than one person Engaging in unprotected sex Engaging in sexual activity with high-risk partners Using alcohol and other drugs

Lab HIV Tests EIA Test Enzyme Immunoassay: A test that screens for the presence of HIV antibodies in the blood If the first test comes back positive, a second test is performed If the second test is positive’ a Western blot test is run; both are more than 98% accurate Western Blot Test: A test that detects HIV antibodies and confirms the results of EIA testing

Additional Tests A rapid test is an HIV test that produces results in only 20 minutes May be used in situations where the infected person might not come back to learn the results Results are fairly accurate but considered preliminary If positive, a Western blot is performed

Home Testing Kits Marketed in the internet and in paper media Most are not trustworthy, particularly if they claim to provide results in a short time in your hope Check to make sure it is approved by the FDA An FDA approved test requires providing a spot of dried blood, which is then mailed to a lab for testing Results are more than 99% accurate and are available within two weeks

Benefits of Early Diagnosis Benefits include: Begin proper medical care early to slow the progress of the virus Avoid behaviors that could spread HIV to others Gain peace of mind when the results are negative

Treating HIV / AIDS Drugs have been developed since the 1980s that slow the growth of the human immunodeficiency virus and treat some symptoms No drug exists yet that cures HIV / AIDS