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How long will I live?
Dear Counsellor:
I have just been diagnosed with HIV. How long will I live? I feel hopeless.
Dear Hopeless:
I know it can be frustrating not knowing what will happen to you. Many people with HIV feel the same anxiety you do. Even though I cannot tell what will happen to you, I can tell you there is more reason to be hopeful. New treatments are constantly being developed and people with HIV are living longer and healthier lives all the time. You will need to visit an HIV-knowledgeable health-care provider to discuss your HIV status and treatment options as soon as possible.
Dear Counsellor:
I was reading a book sometime ago and I saw scabies listed as a sexually transmitted infection. My nine-year-old daughter has scabies and she never had sex nor was she molested, how is this possible? She itches a lot especially at nights.
Concerned Mother
Dear Concerned Mother:
Scabies is the name given to an infection of the skin by a small insect called the itch mite. They are too small to be seen with the naked eye. These mites are usually spread from the clothing or bedding of infected persons or during close skin contact of sexual intercourse.
They burrow into the skin where they lay eggs. Usually two to four days after exposure, raised bumps or blisters appear on the hand and wrist, waistline or on the sex organs. They itch intensely, especially at nights.
Since your daughter is infected with scabies, other close family members may also need treatment. Make sure clothing, bedding, towels used in the last two weeks are washed and dried. Remember, following the instructions of your doctor, regarding treatment for scabies, is extremely important.
For more information on condom use, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, call the AIDS/STD Helpline at 967-3830, 967-3764 or toll free at 1888-991-4444.
