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999 Balmoral Street
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 6E7
Phone: (807) 625-5900
Toll-Free: (888) 294-6630
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Hepatitis, HIV, Herpes, HPV/Genital Warts
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The following are Viral Infections. Click on the links below for more information:
Click here for more information
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- A viral infection that affects the liver.
How is it spread?
- Hepatitis B is spread through infected body fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal fluids.
- Hepatitis B can also be passed from a mother to her baby during childbirth.
- Hepatitis B can also be spread by sharing toothbrushes or razors with an infected person.
- Hepatitis B can be spread if instruments used in body piercing, tattooing or hair removal are infected with the virus.
- Hepatitis B can not be cured, but usually goes away by itself. In others the virus never leaves the body. These people are called carriers. Carriers can give this virus to other people.
- You may have hepatitis B without knowing it because you may not get sick.
- Hepatitis B carriers are at risk for serious diseases of the liver such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Hepatitis B is the only Sexually Transmitted Infection that can be prevented by a vaccine. In Ontario today, many students are immunized in grade 7.
- If you get symptoms, they usually occur 2 to 6 months after being infected.
Symptoms may include:
- Poor appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Jaundice [yellow coloring of the eyes and skin]
Testing and Treatment:
Vaccine:
- For information on the Hepatitis B Vaccine, click here
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- Viral infection spread by having unprotected sex or sharing intravenous drug works.
- HIV attacks the immune system of an infected person.
- There is no cure for HIV infection or for AIDS at this time. HIV remains in the body for life.
- Many drugs have been developed that slow the progress of HIV. So far none of these drugs cure HIV/AIDS. Researchers continue to work towards a cure for HIV/AIDS.
How HIV is spread?
- HIV is spread when there is an exchange of infected body fluids such as blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
- Babies can get HIV from infected mothers during childbirth and through breast feeding.
- HIV can also be spread if instruments used in body piercing, tattooing or hair removal are infected with the virus.
- HIV is not spread by casual social contact such as, touching, hugging or shaking hands with an infected person.
- Insects and pets do not spread the HIV virus.
Testing and Treatment:
For more information:
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- Viral infection spread by having any skin to skin contact during sex.
- Is sometimes spread by direct skin to skin contact with open sores, but can also be spread when you do not have sores. This occurs because the virus also lives on the skin, not just in the sores.
- There are two types of herpes, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Cold sores in your mouth are generally caused by HSV-1, and genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2. HSV-1 can also infect the genital area through unprotected oral sex.
- Herpes outbreaks may appear again and again for the rest of your life.
- You may have some symptoms just before the sores appear. These include tingling and itching in the genital area. These symptoms may last up to 2 - 3 weeks. Sometimes fever and headache can also occur.
Outbreaks can be:
Female
- Sores in or around the vagina or bum, or maybe the thighs and bum.
- Tender lumps in the groin, because the glands may swell.
Male
- Sores on penis, testicles or bum, or maybe the thighs and bum.
- Tender lumps in the groin, because the glands may swell.
Testing and Treatment:
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- Viral infection spread by having direct skin to skin contact or sex
- Sometimes causes warts on or around the genitals or bum area
- There are several different types of HPV. Many people can be infected with HPV and not know it because the warts may not be visible.
- You may have HPV and not know it, but you are still able to infect others
- You may get warts or bumps that appear weeks or months after contact with an infected partner
- Warts can look like small cauliflower- like growths or smooth, raised bumps
- You may find out you have been exposed to HPV through a pap test result. (see left sidebar to read about Pap Tests)
Testing and Treatment:
Vaccine:
For information on the HPV Vaccine, click on the links below:
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Last Updated: 3/14/2011
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