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STI CampaignThe Effects on College Students and Press ReleaseAmber GaragiolaWestern Carolina UniversityTo stop a spread of something you must find it first. It can be very hard for college students to be fully aware of the opportunities around them, due to the overwhelming number of things to do. That’s why it’s important to shed light on things that are important like health and self-care. When students take advantage of the opportunities around them, it can help other students find out about what’s going on too. Educating the campus is vital in order to decrease the amount of STI’s reported to health departments. Often, students are not aware of the ways they can get tested. Getting tested prevents the spread of an unknown disease from one to the other. People typically aren’t aware they are carrying something until someone else tells them they are showing symptoms. The easiest way to avoid these complications is to get tested. Syphilis can be deadly if not treated in time. Syphilis is divided up into three stages, the first one being acute. During the first stage you have time to get tested and provided with medicine from a healthcare professional. When people lack the option to get themselves checked, it can result in problems. People that are in the latent stage of syphilis can run into serious issues. “Certain problems that can arise with syphilis are blindness, damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints” (mayo clinic).Of course, there are ways to prevent acquiring the disease. The best way to prevent syphilis is to practice safe sex are to have protection. Condoms are most people’s number one choice. Another way is a dental dam for a woman, this is basically a female condom that is inserted and can be used for a few months. The last way to stay protected is practicing abstinence.Usually when an STI can be deadly, it has a lot of myths that go along with it. A lot of people think syphilis only existed in the past and that it’s completely extinct. This is untrue, however amount of people that show symptoms of syphilis have decreased overall. Most people also believe that syphilis can make you go insane. This was true when there was no cure or even medicine to help with it. ?“Before there were effective?treatments for syphilis, which are antibiotics, some very famous people had end-stage syphilis, and one of the symptoms of that is actually insanity,’ says Bogart.” Over time modern medicine has drastically improved their practice.The last common myth is that syphilis is incurable. This stands true depending on the stage. ?“Once antibiotics became available, syphilis became completely curable. It is true, though, that if a diagnosis comes late in the course of the illness, any organ damage already caused by syphilis may prove irreversible” (Bogart). Normally when most infections have manifested then it can be almost impossible to go back. For an infection like syphilis, there is a small time period for getting treated accordingly.Throughout Western Carolina, will be descriptions of STI’s and the dangers associated with them. It can help introduce what can really go wrong if you contract an infection as serious as syphilis or even HIV. HIV is impossible to get rid of. Only medicines can prolong the life of an HIV infected patient. Syphilis is even uncurable if it’s caught too late. It’s important to warn students about these infections because students are living to close to one another. When people are unaware, they’ve contracted these infections that’s when they get spread to other individuals.Syphilis is caused by the bacteria?Treponema pallidum. The STI commonly can associated with other STI’s due to the transmission. “Syphilis was once a major public health threat, commonly causing serious long-term health problems such as arthritis, brain damage, and blindness. It defied effective treatment until the late 1940s, when the antibiotic penicillin was first developed.” (Web M.D.) since this has such strong effects to the human body, it can interfere with someone’s daily functioning. This is often when it’s too late. “According to the CDC, the rate of new cases of syphilis had plummeted in the 1990's and in the year 2000 it reached an all-time low since reporting began in 1941. However, new cases of syphilis doubled between 2005 and 2013 from 8,724 to 16,663.?In 2014, the number of new cases had risen to 19,999.” (Web M.D.) The new cases are formed because of the new strains.Forgetfulness is a huge factor when it comes to contracted STI’s. “If you're dating, particularly casually, it's important to have sex safely. That's true whether you're having sexual intercourse, oral sex, or just using your hands. Practicing safe sex every time you have sex can help to protect you against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Making this commitment can also help you feel more confident in your sexual decision making. Safe sex may not be foolproof. However, choosing to practice it consistently also forces you to make a conscious decision to have sex instead of just letting it happen. That, along with the conversations that safe sex requires, is a great way to reduce the chance that you'll do something you regret” (Boskey).“Oral sex may be less risky, but infections can still be transmitted without a latex condom or dental dam. Dental dams — thin, square pieces of rubber made with latex or silicone — prevent skin-to-skin contact.?Having sexual contact with multiple partners. The more people you have sexual contact with, the greater your risk. This is true for concurrent partners as well as monogamous consecutive relationships.?Having a history of STIs. Having one STI makes it much easier for another STI to take hold.?Anyone forced to have sexual intercourse or sexual activity. Dealing with rape or assault can be difficult, but it's important to be seen as soon as possible. Screening, treatment and emotional support can be offered.?Abusing alcohol or using recreational drugs. Substance abuse can inhibit your judgment, making you more willing to participate in risky behaviors.?Injecting drugs. Needle sharing spreads many serious infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. ?Being young. Half of STIs occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24.?Men who request prescriptions for drugs to treat erectile dysfunction. Men who ask their doctors for prescriptions for certain drugs — such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra) — have higher rates of STIs. Be sure you are up to date on safe sex practices if you ask your doctor for one of these medications” (mayo clinic).It is strongly advised to keep yourself clean to avoid further complications. By using condoms and staying protected, it helps the statistics of those infected decrease significantly. College students have shown to have the highest number due to living so closely with one another. Usually by the thousands.Syphilis is one of the scariest STI’s in my opinion because its symptoms are not as recognizable on the human body. It can go unnoticed for years, and that’s when the problems start. “The infection is highly contagious and can even be spread from salvia during kissing” (Web M.D.). If someone was unaware that someone else, they were kissing has syphilis then they may not even realize that it can be spread through kissing.Often, there are a lot of myths associated with acquiring syphilis. Most people think syphilis only existed in the past and that it’s completely extinct. This is untrue, however amount of people that show symptoms of syphilis have decreased overall. Most people also believe that syphilis can make you go insane. This was true when there was no cure or even medicine to help with it. ?“Before there were effective?treatments for syphilis, which are antibiotics, some very famous people had end-stage syphilis, and one of the symptoms of that is actually insanity,’ says Bogart.” Over time modern medicine has drastically improved their practice. The last common myth is that syphilis is incurable. This stands true depending on the stage. ?“Once antibiotics became available, syphilis became completely curable. It is true, though, that if a diagnosis comes late in the course of the illness, any organ damage already caused by syphilis may prove irreversible” (Bogart). Normally when most infections have manifested then it can be almost impossible to go back. For an infection like syphilis, there is a small time period for getting treated accordingly.In order to advocate for safe sex on a college campus, it must be appealing to individuals who aren’t concerned with their safety regarding safe sex. Students who don’t care are usually the individuals who lack the knowledge of where to get tested. Bird building provides free HIV and STI testing which includes the following testing of gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, syphilis HPV, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, hepatitis C, and HIV. People over time have came together about syphilis victims to discuss ways to attribute to that society. “Featuring historical figures known or rumored to have had syphilis and portrayed as cartoon penises, the Sophistry campaign uses humor and sexual innuendo to engage gbMSM, but also to deliver serious health messages” (Center of Disease Control). Not many people openly discuss situations and feelings to address the issues that come with the infection. Educating people on these possible life-threatening infections, its crucial to have free testing. Not everyone can afford high-end lab reports and doctor visits, especially being a college student.CitationsBoskey, E. (n.d.). How to Have Safe Sex: Tips and Tricks to Avoid STDs. Retrieved from transmitted diseases (STDs). (2017, August 18). Retrieved from . (n.d.). Retrieved from : Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and More. (n.d.). Retrieved from and Facts About Syphilis | Everyday Health. (2018, June 08). Retrieved from ................
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