This is one of the scariest words you can have told to you. Mainly because you may not know what it means and what happens next. It is a virus that damages your body’s immun system, meaning it makes it harder for your body to fight off infections. Unforunately this disease also makes you more susceptible to different types of cancer and other infections such as pnuemonia and meningitis.AIDS is the name given when you are in the later stages of the disease.

In early stages of the infection, the symptoms may include, fever, headache,swollen lymph glands, and a rash.In the beginning you may not have symptoms but you will still be able to pass the disease on to others. In the later stages of the disease, the first signs are swollen lymph nodes,diarrhea,weight loss,fever and a couch. By the time that AIDS has set in the signs and symptoms may be the following. Soaking night sweats, shaking chills or a fever higher than 100,dry couch, shortness of breath,chronic diarrhea,persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth,headahces, blurred or distorted vision, and weight loss.
This disease is passed a number of different ways and here are just a few of them. Having unprotected sex with an infectious person, through blood transfusion of an infected donor.Through needle sharing, meaning drug needles used by someone who is a carrier of the disease. Just to let you know you cant get the disease by kissing or hugging,dancing or shaking hands. It has to be passed through blood or sexual secretions.
The complications of this disease are that you are more vulnerable to pneumonia, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, hepatitis,herpes and HPV.Also you become more vulnerable to different types of cancer.
Testing for HIV is done using blood or oral mucous, but it isnt accurate sometimes becaus ethe disease takes about 12 weeks for the antibodies to develop and in rare cases it could take up to 6 months.
As of now there is not cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are drugs that suppress the symptoms and reduce the amount of the virus in your blood to very low levels or to the fact of being undetectable. Now that doesnt mean that its gone.Testing will be done at the beginning of treatment and every 3-6 months to see if the meds are lowering the levels of the virus in the blood.
Now when being treated remember to follow your doctor’s guidelines. Get vaccinations for pneumonia and the flu, dont smoke or do any illicit drugs and try your best to eat a healthy diet. Find ways to relax,get plenty of rest.
When receiving this news go out and learn all that you can about the disease to better prepare yourself for the changes.Maintain a strong support system, do what you can to come to terms with the illness. If you have to seek out counseling, there are a vast number of support systems out there to help you through this.

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Dallas is part of a politically red state and many are conservative.  It goes against their grain to be on any government list.  The law says lab testing companies must report all positive HIV and STD tests; however, Texas law does not require a name to be given.  This is how anonymous HIV & STD testing in Dallas is possible.

 

There are additional laws in place when it comes to anonymous HIV tests.  In addition to requiring each HIV positive incident to be reported, they also ask for mandatory face-to-face presentation of HIV test results.  Not everyone realizes this and they freak out when they are told they must come in to get their results. 

 

Have you ever wondered “what is the difference between confidential STD testing and anonymous STD testing?”  First off, you medical records are required to be confidential.  If a company advertises confidential STD testing they are stating the obvious.  Anonymous HIV & STD testing is very different.  I have never heard of a Doctor’s office performing anonymous testing considering they work so close with the insurance companies who need your personal information.  In fact, it is not possible to get an anonymous STD test using your insurance so expect to pay cash.

 

How much should you pay for an STD test?  I suggest you pick the closest Any Lab Test Now® to you.  They are located throughout the DFW metroplex.  I have placed links to their pricing and locations in the top right corner of this blog.  Depending on which STD you want to test for it will cost you between $49 and $89.  A full comprehensive STD panel runs $229.  The results will be back in 1-2 business days.

 

I was told on my last round of yearly tests that the name “Mickey Mouse” or simply “Anonymous” has been often given when ordering tests.  They claim they can get you in-and-out within 15 minutes from the moment you walk in the door and I have yet to prove them otherwise.  They are a niche lab that specializes in customer service, lower prices, and speed of results.  I am told give lower prices by not dealing with insurance companies.  Their thyroid test is only $79 verses $279 at Quest.  There are no hidden fees or charges such as an “office visit” fee. 

 

There can be many legitimate reasons you would want anonymous HIV & STD testing in Dallas.  Getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases may seem very embarrassing but it doesn’t have to.  Truly anonymous HIV testing is available and if you are concerned you can get tested today and find out tomorrow.

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STD stands for sexually transmitted disease, which means that it is a disease or infection that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. With many STD’s, there are no symptoms, which means a person can be exposed to an STD, be carrying the disease and transfer the disease on to someone else without ever having a sign or symptom of the disease. Of the people that have an STD, 80% will experience no noticeable symptoms. If an STD is left untreated it can have serious consequences. The consequences are usually worse in women than in men, including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, cancer and sometimes even death. About 1/3 of infertility in women is caused by STD’s. The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease is to abstain from have any sexual contact. If someone is sexually active, the best protection available is condoms. Male condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections by 98%. The female condoms only reduce the risk by 70%, they are not as effective and sometimes very uncomfortable for the female. The condom needs to be worn properly in order to maintain their effectiveness. For maximum effectiveness use a lubricant with spermicide along with the condom. Every year, 9 million people under 25 contract a new STD. There are more than 20 diseases that are transmitted through sexual contact. The most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. All of these are not treatable.

 

Chlamydia is caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is the most frequently reported STD. The symptoms are usually mild or none at all. It can take up to 3 weeks to notice any symptoms at all. Women might experience a vaginal discharge or burning with urination. If chlamydia is left untreated and spreads, a woman will experience abdominal/low back pain, nausea, fever, pain during intercourse or bleeding between periods. Men might experience discharge from the penis or burning with urination. If infected with chlamydia through anal sex, a person might experience rectal pain, discharge or bleeding. Chlamydia has also been found in the throat of a person performing oral sex. In women that have been infected with Chlamydia and it was left untreated, 40% ended up with pelvic inflammatory disease. In women, it can also cause permanent damage to the reproductive system, leading to ectopic pregnancy and women with Chlamydia are five times more likely to become infected with HIV if exposed. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea often infect a person at the same time. Chlamydia is a treatable std. During 2008, there were 1,486 new cases of Chlamydia in Collin County and 13,495 new cases in Dallas County.

 

Gonorrhea is also known as The Clap. Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. It is more common for men to not experience any signs or symptoms with
Gonorrhea. Sometimes it can take up to 30 days for symptoms to appear. Men might experience discharge from the penis, painful urination and even painful or swelling of the testicles. In women symptoms are often mild and mistaken for a urinary tract infection. Symptoms of rectal infection can be anal discharge or itching, anal bleeding and painful bowel movements. In the throat, it can cause a sore throat. If gonorrhea is left untreated in a woman it can cause infertility, and in men it can lead to epididymitis. Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints and can be life threatening. Gonorrhea is a treatable std. During 2008, there were 364 new cases of Gonorrhea in Collin County and 5,070 new cases in Dallas County.

 

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Many people that contract Syphilis do not have symptoms for years. There are three different stages of Syphilis. The first stage, or primary stage, a person might experience a single sore or multiple sores at the spot where Syphilis entered the body. If left untreated, the sore will heal but the infection will progress. The second stage, or the secondary stage, is the development of a rash, fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, muscle ache and fatigue. Again these symptoms may resolve without treatment but the infection still progresses. The third stage, or the latent stage, can damage the internal organs; the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, liver, bones and joints. The damage may be serious enough to cause death. Syphilis is a treatable std.

 

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Herpes Simplex Virus type I or type II. Symptoms typically appear as blisters on or around the vaginal or rectal area. The first outbreak usually occurs within 2 weeks of exposure and can take 2-4 weeks to resolve. There is no treatment for Herpes, however there are anti-viral medications available to decrease the number of outbreaks and lessen the severity of the outbreaks. Of Americans 12 and older, 1 out of every 5 has Herpes.

 

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be acute or chronic and can result in long term health problems. An acute infection is a short term illness that usually occurs within six months of exposure. Typically an acute infection leads to chronic infection. There is an immunization available for Hepatitis B, but not for Hepatitis C.

 

The one that usually scares people the most is HIV/AIDS. Many people may not realize they are infected as this virus doesn’t show any symptoms the first few years. HIV testing is the only way to know for sure if you have been infected. There are many ways of treating this virus that can prolong an infected person’s life. For many this virus will progress to AIDS and eventually death. As of December 2008, there were 35,014 people living with HIV or AIDS in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

 

In the state of Texas, Dallas is ranked # 2 for the cities with the highest rates of STD’s. This is a serious epidemic worldwide, but with the numbers as high as they are, everyone should want to be safer. Seventy million Americans currently have a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted diseases or infections can be passed on to another person by oral sex, vaginal sex, rectal sex and can also be passed on to a baby during labor from the mother. If anyone is involved in sexual relations, this person should be tested regularly. Since so many STD’s don’t have any symptoms, a person can be infected with a disease and pass it on to another person and not know that they are infected. Many of these STD’s are treatable, but you have to get tested in order to receive treatment. People should be aware of their partners sexual behaviors. Abstaining from sexual activity is the best form of prevention.

 

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