If you ask junior Jake Berman, protecting yourself against Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)s is just a matter of common sense.
"Don't have sex with people who have STDs, that is the best way to prevent them," Berman said.
This type of attitude worries Dr. Margaret Higham of Tufts' Health Services, who is concerned that college students are not aware of the dangers of unprotected sex.
Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a category of diseases that include over 80 types of viruses. They are named for the benign warts, or papillomas, that they cause. Different types of HPVs cause the common warts that grow on hands and feet and those that develop in the mouth and genital area.
HPVs are now recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. Beginning sexual intercourse at an early age and having many sexual partners increase the chances of contracting an HPV.
"HPV is the most common STD on college campus, but hardly anyone knows about this virus," Higham said. "One to two thirds of all sexually active people have this virus. It takes a while to develop so students might not know they have it while they are in college and pass it on to other partners before they discover that they are sick."
Syphilis, once virtually untreatable, can now be effectively diagnosed and treated with antibiotic therapy. Early symptoms of syphilis are often very mild, and treatment is often not sought when first infected. Syphilis increases the risk of transmitting and receiving HIV and is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection. Over time, the bacteria move throughout the body, causing damage to many organs over time. The disease is divided into four stages - primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary (late).
An untreated infected person may infect others during the first two stages (one to two years). Even though untreated syphilis is not contagious in the late stage, serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other neurological problems, and death can occur.
Herpes, a more commonly known STD, is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV-type one causes fever blisters on the mouth or face, known as oral herpes. HSV-type two - also known as genital herpes - typically affects the genital area.
HSV-1 and HSV-2 are inactive and cause no symptoms. People can remain infected for life after the first initial episode. Herpes is spread by direct contact including kissing, sexual contact, and skin-to-skin contact. An estimated 40 million people have genital herpes, which is a chronic viral infection. About 500,000 new people get symptomatic herpes each year and there are even more people without symptoms.
Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, sometimes resulting in death. There are 4 forms of hepatitis - A, B, C and D. Both Hepatitus and A and B have permanent vaccines to protect against them. The virus that causes Hepatitus B is found in blood, saliva, fecal matter, and urine. One-third of all Americans have evidence of some past infection, with up to 200,000 infections per year.
Many symptoms of Hepatitis A are similar to those of Hepatitis B, which include pain in the abdomen and muscle and joint aches. Hepatitis B virus can cause lifelong infections. The virus continues its silent attack on the liver, which over a period of years can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. This damage to the liver slows the blood flow through the liver causing increased pressure in the vein that transports blood from the stomach and the intestines to the liver; and varicose veins (esophageal varicies) can develop in the stomach and esophagus and, without warning, these large veins can break. Over 5,000 people die from chronic liver disease caused by HBV infection each year including scarring of the liver, liver cancer, damaged liver cells, liver failure and even death. The incubation period for this virus is from two weeks to six months after viral entry to the liver and during this time a person is extremely contagious. Symptoms disappear over six to 12 months until complete recovery.
"Many of these viruses have either no test or no good treatment. The best treatment is prevention. Stop the virus before [you] acquire it," Higham said.
