Genital Warts - An Update

Genital warts (also known as ano-genital warts, Condyloma, Condylomata acuminate, or venereal warts) are highly contagious. They are transmitted during sexual intercourse and caused by some strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) affecting both men and women. Genital warts do not appear until two to four weeks after contact and sometimes months may elapse before the warts become visible. They are usually painless but may itch or produce a burning sensation. Genital warts are not life-threatening, but they can have an emotional effect, causing people to feel uncomfortable in existing or new relationships.

They often occur in clusters appearing as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-coloured swellings that can spread into large masses in the genital area. They can be flat. In the early stage of development, they are not visible so that at this time transmission may occur without a partner being aware of the potential for transmission. Genital warts can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex.

Genital warts are the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection seen at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK. It is estimated that as many as 6 million new cases of genital warts are diagnosed in the United States each year. The condition is becoming more prevalent.

They can occur at any age but the prevalence peaks at 20-24 years. If a toddler has genital warts, sexual abuse should be considered although one must bear in mind that the virus could have been acquired during childbirth.

Until the 19th century, genital warts were believed to be a form of syphilis or gonorrhoea but we now know that certain strains of HPV prove to be the culprits. Genital warts are highly contagious. You have a 60% chance of getting the infection with a single sexual contact. Other common types of HPV that cause warts on the hands and the soles of the feet do not cause genital warts. Rarely, the virus is transmitted from a mother to her baby during childbirth (vertical transmission). It is a popular myth that you can catch genital warts from a towel, doorknob, a toilet seat or the swimming pool. They can be caused by strains 6, 11, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52 and 54 of HPV; types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90% of genital warts cases. HPV types that tend to cause genital warts are not the same ones as those that cause cervical cancer (types 16 and 18). Genital warts are not usually passed on from warts affecting other parts of the body.

Genital warts are transmitted primarily by sexual intimacy, and the probability of infection increases in relation to the number of sexual partners. Smoking, oral contraceptives, multiple sex partners, and early coital age are risk factors for acquiring genital warts. Growth may be more rapid during pregnancy or when a person's immune system is weakened by diabetes, HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, Hodgkin's disease or taking anti-rejection drugs following an organ transplant. Smokers are more likely to develop genital warts than non-smokers.

Genital warts per se do not cause any serious long-term health problems. They are associated with cervical carcinoma as a woman can acquire multiple strains of HPV. Medical providers consider any case of genital warts to be a warning of potentially pre-malignant and malignant conditions. Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease and may, therefore, be accompanied by other sexually transmitted diseases.

No single treatment regimen for genital warts is better than another and no one treatment regimen is ideal for all cases. Two or more professional treatments are often required. Do not use over the counter cures for warts around the genitalia as severe irritation can occur. Genital warts can be treated by swabbing with the cell poison called podophyllotoxin. Pregnancy should be excluded before treatment commences. The area should be washed and dried before application. Warticon is applied at home twice daily for three days each week for four weeks. The skin should be washed one to four hours after application to reduce local irritation. Cryotherapy (freeze treatment), diathermy (heat) and laser are effective. Once an individual has been infected, the virus will be carried for life, even when the warts have been completely eradicated.

Most pregnant women, who have previously had genital warts, would be unlikely to have any complications or problems during pregnancy or childbirth. Unlike herpes, transmission of HPV to the baby occurs very rarely during childbirth so that genital warts are not an indication for caesarean-section unless they are so extensive that they restrict the birth canal. Some of the medications used to treat genital warts cannot be used during pregnancy, so it is important to tell your doctor if you could be pregnant.

If you have signs of genital warts, you should avoid sexual activity until the warts have been successfully treated. Condoms offer some protection against the virus, but they cannot completely prevent infection because the warts can be outside of the area protected by the condom. Spermicidal foams, creams, and jellies have not been proven to be protective. Women and men with more than one sexual partner, or if their partner has had more than one partner, should have regular examinations for sexually transmitted diseases, including genital warts. As with other sexually transmitted diseases, your partner must be treated as well, since an infected partner could easily transfer the virus back to you. Anyone with whom you've had sex should also be checked for genital warts.

The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, provides immunisation against the two strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and two strains of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts.

David Viniker MD FRCOG is a London based Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. He advocates patient choice. Visit his websites which explain the advantages and disadvantages of the various options; http://www.obstetric-health.com http://www.2womenshealth.com

Man with Alzheimers sentenced for sex abuse of young relative - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com Alzheimers, News No Comments Man with Alzheimers sentenced for sex abuse of young relative The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ - 1 hour ago by Jennifer Golson/The Star-Ledger An elderly Hunterdon County man this morning received a four-year suspended state prison sentence for sexually assaulting

How To Select a Nursing Home

Placing a troubled, dependent relative in a nursing home is a heart-wrenching ordeal. To ease the way, know when a nursing home is the only answer. Deciding factors : When there is a loss of control of body functions, a loss of memory or an inability to perform the basic activities of daily life such as shopping, cleaning and dressing. People do not age physically and emotionally at the same rate.

Never coerce a person into a nursing home. Rather, open the decision for discussion. When possible, have the person accompany you when you shop for the proper home. The nursing homes with the best Economy And Alzheimer highest staff-to-patient ratios and longest waiting lists are nonprofit. That is, they are run by churches, fraternal orders and charities.

The majority of nursing homes are for profit, or proprietary. Other differences among homes. Skilled nursing facilities are for patients with serious mental and physical disabilities. Most of these places are proprietary.

Nonprofit homes usually charge a flat, high monthly fee with no extras for added services, Proprietary homes ask a lower monthly fee with extra payments for services,

Always be certain that you understand the rates and service charges.

May proprietary do not take Medicaid patients. The amounts paid by the stat and federal health plans are not always enough to cover the costs. Patients without any money should be placed in a nonprofit home.

To select a home, start by asking the patient's physician, relatives and friends who have gone through a similar experience for information. Also, Caring For A Loved One With Alzheimer Disease information from the state departments of health and social services.

Begin the search long before it becomes necessary to find a home. Caution: Many emotional problems among the elderly occur during the waiting period because of the stress of being in limbo.

Since this is an emotional experience, take a close friend with you when you inspect nursing homes. The person will look for things that you forget.

One of the things you need to ask your self is why am I putting my aged father or mother in a nursing home. I can mention few of the reasons why:Father or mother can not take care of them selves.

Parent can not remember to take Battling The Disease Alzheimer medications.

Parent alone at home most cases, and you do not want them to get hurt while you out. There are many reasons to make you put your parent in a nursing home, do not feel guilty. Its a fact of life.

What you seek in a home, and what you watch for

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The Corner Of My Mouth Is Split And Sore, Is It Angular Chelitis?

If the sensitive skin at the corner of your mouth is split and ulcerated, it is quite often Angular Chelitis. The skin becomes crusty and the sores typically split when opening the mouth, making it painful to open it. Bleeding sometimes occurs.

If you have Angular Chelitis, there is a simple cure. Millions of Americans suffer from Angular Chelitis every year. It is traced back to an iron deficiency, however many also seem to report getting an attack during a cold snap or at the onset of winter. It is observed that a certain type of person is susceptable to Angular Chelitis, for this reason a reliable cure should be sought for these symptoms should the condition worsen.

A sufferer typically gets an attack several times a year and some sufferers continue to tolerate the painful symptoms on an almost permanent basis. The reason for this is a 1% hydro cortisone topical cream is usually prescribed. This type of treatment is very ineffectual and leads to a patient simply giving up on controlling the symptoms.

Left unchecked, angular Chelitis is accompanied by a contagious oral yeast infection inside the mouth. This fungal infection, Candida, (oral thrush) is contagious and is characterised by a coating on the tongue, often with a whitish hue. Ideally, the best way to sel diagnose the condition is by looking at real life pictures of actual sufferers and comparing your own symptom to the photo/s. In this way you can identify your condition and verify it. When you know the clinical name for it, it becomes a lot easier to find more information on it. Of course the best course of action, if you are not sure, is to see a competent health professional.

Angular Chelitis is not connected to herpes or cold sores.The majority of people with Angular Chelitis would do anything to rid themselves of the painful and ugly legions when the affliction sprouts in full bloom.

If you would like to look at pictures that can help you verify your own condition, you can download this simple and effective cure from the Angular Chelitis Foundation Their official treatment instructions are very effective. After following treatment instructions, you can expect the symptoms relieved and the legions in the corners of your mouth completely dried out within a few hours. http://www.angularchelitisfoundation.com

Living With Alzheimer's Disease
patrickhartney
5 min - Oct 27, 2006

The story of living with the horrible disease, how it affects the afflicted and their loved ones. Stem Cell research is the most promising research in terms of potential cures for this and many other currently incurable diseases. Nothing is more "Pro-Life" than curing deadly disease and helping the suffering. Support Stem Cell research.