Frequently Asked Questions - Disease Prevention & Epidemiology - Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

Disease Prevention

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Most Frequently Asked Questions:

What is HIV? What is Human Immunodeficiency Virus?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS; HIV weakens several body systems and destroys the body's immune system, making it easier for life threatening cancers or opportunistic infections to invade the body.

What is AIDS? What is Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus?

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: AIDS is the late stage of an infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. AIDS is a complex disease characterized by severe damage to the body's natural immune system. A person with AIDS becomes susceptible to unusual opportunistic diseases and cancers that are not ordinarily a threat to people with normal immune systems. A person who is infected with HIV is said to have AIDS when the T-Cell or CD4 count falls below 200 or when diagnosed with one of more than two dozen specific serious illnesses.

What is a STD? What is Sexually Transmitted Disease?

A sexually transmitted disease spreads during oral, vaginal, or anal sex; or contact with one of the following fluids from an infected person: blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk. Some examples include chlamydia, HPV, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and HIV.

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD that remains silent 80% of the time in women and 25% of the time in men. Problems that can result from contracting chlamydia are infertility and ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. Chlamydia can be treated with a specific antibiotic. Symptoms, if present, include pain and burning when urinating and discharge. If the infection is left untreated later symptoms include abdominal and testicular pain which warns of a serious (potentially life-threatening) condition. Women under the age of 25 are especially susceptible to this STD.

What is Gonorrhea? top

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that may result in green or yellow tinged discharge and pain/burning while urinating. If left untreated gonorrhea may result in pelvic inflammatory disease or epididymitis, causing abdominal or testicular pain. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious infections and is a major cause of infertility.

What is HPV? What are Genital Warts?

HPV stands for human papillomavirus. This is a virus that causes genital warts, which are transmitted through sexual contact. It has been linked to certain tumors, including cervical cancer.

What is Syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that causes a painless sore at the site of infection. If untreated, it may lead to heart damage, brain damage, and blindness.

What is Herpes?

Herpes simplex viruses causes fluid-filled blisters around the mouth or genitals. HIV makes people more susceptible to Herpes and vice versa. Herpes can be severe if a person also is infected with HIV.

What is Bacterial Vaginosis? What is B.V.? What is Gardnerella?

Bacterial vaginosis is a bacterial infection caused by a combination of bacteria including Gardnerella vaginalis. This is the most prevalent infection in sexually active adolescents and adults.

What is Trichomoniasis? What is Trich? top

This is a common and persistent protozoal disease of the reproductive tract. It is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. Women usually have profuse discharge from the vagina that is yellow and smells bad. Most men have no early symptoms.

What is an HIV Antibody Test?

In Iowa, this test is now done using the Orasure Test. This antibody would be present by six months after exposure and infection with HIV.

What is a blood draw? What is a blood draw used for?

A small sample of a person's blood that is examined to determine blood characteristics and to detect disease agents or evidence of infection. Doctors order blood tests to detect specific diseases. A specific blood test or the Orasure is required to test for HIV.

What is a pelvic exam?

This exam requires the insertion of a speculum (a tool) into the vagina to view the cervical opening. This is done routinely to test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, Trich, and B.V. The exam also includes bimanual palpation.

What is a pap smear?

This involves a pelvic exam where a specific test for cervical cancer is performed. This is not done at the Health Department or routinely during STD testing.

What is confidential testing?

Confidential HIV testing is provided at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. It is provided with the assurance that tests results will be known only by the client, the counselor, the laboratory and in the case of a positive - the Iowa Department of Public Health.

What is anonymous testing? top

This is when testing is done with no identifying information recorded. Only the person tested can obtain the test results. This kind of testing is not available in Iowa due to changes in the law July 1, 1998.

What is partner notification?

An individual or the Health Department informs sexual and needle-sharing partners of an HIV/STD infected person so that they know they may be at risk of having HIV or another STD and have the opportunity to get tested. This process is also called contact tracing. The name of the infected person is kept confidential.

What is Orasure?

OraSure is an oral test that uses oral mucosal transudate, a fluid that comes out of the lining of the cheek, to test for HIV antibody. The test has demonstrated 99% effectiveness and is exactly the same test done on the blood.

What is Oral mucosal transudate?

This is the fluid that is present on the lining of the cheek that is used to test for antibodies to HIV. This fluid is used in the Orasure HIV Antibody test.

What is the window period for HIV?

It takes the immune system 3-6 months to produce sufficient antibody for an HIV positive test result after infection with HIV. This is called the "window period," when a test result could be negative, but the person is actually infected.

What is the incubation period or asymptomatic period with HIV?

This is a period of time without symptoms averaging 10 years. The asymptomatic person looks and feels healthy however, they can still infect others. HIV has a long asymptomatic period, it is estimated 90% of those infected are unaware that they have HIV.

What is Acute Retroviral Syndrome?

This is the immune system's early reaction to the virus. Some people report symptoms occurring days to weeks after infection and lasting about two weeks. Often, these symptoms are passed off as mono or the flu.

What about Blood Transfusions?

Many people were infected before they began testing the blood. Now the risk of infection is 1 in 500,000.

What is the most effective way to prevent HIV?

Abstinence from sex or drugs is 100% effective.

What are ways to reduce the risk of HIV infection?

a.) Latex condoms, used consistently (every time) for anal, vaginal and oral sex; and used correctly from start to finish.

b.) A mutual monogamous relationship (sex with 1 person who only has sex with you) where both partners have been tested and know they are HIV negative, have no other sex partners, and do not use needles or share them.

c.) Not using or sharing needles for drug use/tattoos/body piercing/body carving.

Page updated 11-28-00 back to top