The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not an adult-only disease but is also known to infect infants and children. The common causes of HIV infections in children are usually accidental needle stick injuries, premastication and sexual assault. Guidelines for adults recommend a base of tenofovir with lamivudine (3TC)/emtricitabine (FTC) and a third drug which is either… Continue reading
The herpes simplex virus comes in two strains, HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1. This STD most commonly causes oral herpes (cold sores) and HSV-2 genital herpes though both can cause infection of the mouth or genitals. The HSV viruses are large double-stranded DNA viruses and members of the Herpesviridae family which also includes Epstein-Barr Virus, the Chickenpox… Continue reading
With advancements in the field of research and scientific probing, we are continuously getting better treatments and vaccinations for different diseases. Although, there are currently no vaccines which can prevent HIV, scientists have been able to formulate the next best thing – HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). A report by the Center of Diseases, Control and… Continue reading
Gonorrhoea is one of the oldest known STDs with evidence suggesting it was present in the human population as far back as ancient Greece and Egypt. It is a gram negative (has two cell walls with a small periplasmic space between) bacteria and consists of two ball-shaped cells joined by a septum thus is called… Continue reading
HIV holds a great threat to health care workers as constant exposure may lead to accidental HIV infection in previously un-infected individuals. A timely treatment of HIV Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a prevention therapy that has been proven to be highly effective in protecting against occupational HIV infection. Due to its potential toxicities though, a… Continue reading
Nut allergies are among the most dangerous of allergies, with a high rate of anaphylaxis. Sufferers know to be wary of what they eat. But how many would think to be wary of what their partner was eating? In 2007, a woman presented at St Helier Hospital in England was suffering from widespread hives and… Continue reading
HIV PEP medication has been helping to greatly reduce the possibility of infection after exposure to HIV. PEP is prescribed for 28 days as a two or a three-drug regimen. It is recommended that PEP therapy starts within 72 hours after HIV exposure. A recently published report compared the efficacy of the 28 day full… Continue reading
It does rather spoil the mood, having to stop and search for the small package. It invariably ends up at the bottom of the bag or is not in the pocket you thought it was in. Then you can’t get the wrapper undone. There is fumbling. It is clumsy when you want to be sexy. … Continue reading
Among occupations, Medical professionals are the ones who are most highly exposed to infections and threats of communicable diseases. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), being an untreatable virus, holds great risk to medical professionals especially those who work with HIV-infected patients and needles. HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is something that can greatly reduce the risk of… Continue reading
Tuberculosis When it comes to diseases that have shaped world history you cannot go past Tuberculosis (TB). Its footprint lingers in literature, it is found in ancient Neolithic remains and Egyptian mummies and we can even link the development of Kellogg’s Cornflakes with the health crazes that it triggered over the previous two centuries. Cause… Continue reading