In 1993 a fishing trawler came into port after three months at sea. The skipper presented to a clinic with urethral discharge that lab reports identified as gonorrhoea. The symptoms had not appeared until well into the voyage and it was clear the STD was contracted during the months at sea. The crew was all… Continue reading
Of all the letters in the English language, few are feared as much as the simple combination of H.I.V. Once you’re infected, the impact on your health and on your family can be devastating. As careful as you may be, there are still scenarios which can result in exposure to HIV. Instead of worrying and… Continue reading
The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (NYSDHAI) recently tasked their Medical Care Criteria Committee (MCCC) to update their HIV PEP (Post-exposure Prophylaxis) guidelines. PEP refers to the treatment required and administered after exposure to HIV – a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This exposure is categorised as resulting from sexual assault, occupational exposure,… Continue reading
What is it? HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a human specific (can only infect humans) virus that attacks the T-cells of the immune system. T-cells are the detector cells of the immune system, attacking foreign antigens they encounter in the blood stream. The HIV virus invades the T-cells. Once in they take… Continue reading