AIDS/HIV
AIDS is one of the leading killers within the African American community today. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an infectious disease caused by the human immunodefifciency virus or HIV (Frey, 1999).
AIDS/HIV works in two parts. First, the HIV virus destroys the immune cells, and then the AIDS virus affects the body major organs. This progresses through three stages:
Acute Retroviral Syndrome- the symptoms during this period are fever, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of appetite, digestive disturbances, weight loss, skin rashes, head aches and chronically swollen lymph nodes which is also known as lymphadenopathy (Frey, 1999).
Latency Period- this is the period when AIDS becomes latent for as many as 10 years or more. During this time the virus continues to replicate in the lymph nodes which can cause persistent generalized lymphadenepathy (PGL), constitutional symptoms and problems with other organ systems. (Frey, 1999).
Late Stage AIDS- during this stage their is a decline in the number of CD4+ lymphocytes. This is followed by a rise in the frequency of opportunistic infections and cancers. The different type of infections that can happen during this time are opportunistic infection, AIDS dementia complex, neurologic complication musculoskeletal complications, oral symptoms and AIDS-related cancers (Frey, 1999).
Of course you know there is no cure for AIDS, but there are treatments available. Some of the treatments are prophylactic treatment for opportunistic infections, anti-retroviral treatment and stimulation of blood cell production. There are also alternative treatments available which help the immune system and treatment for pain control.
CHLAMYDIA
Chlamydia is a std that has begun to be seen in higher rates for minority women than in white women (American Social Health Association, 2001). This disease is caused by the bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. This bacterium can affect a person cervix, throat and eyes among other areas of the body.
One of the general symptoms of chlamydia is a yellowish genital discharge and burning during urination. Women may have abdominal pains or pain during intercourse. For men, they may be pain or swelling in the testicles (Hughes, 2000).
According to the article in the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine some of the tests that a doctor may perform to see if you have chlamydia are:
Cell culture test- it is being replaced by faster and more convenient newer tests. However, it remains the only test available for non-genital chlamydia infection (Tran, 2001).
