Human Papilloma Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Impact of Condom Use on Its Spread

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is used to describe more than 100 different types of related viruses. HPV can be transmitted through contact with skin surfaces or genital fluids infected with the virus. Genital HPV infection is usually, though not always, sexually transmitted. While many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been associated with increased risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV, this association has not been observed for HPV. However, persons with HIV/AIDS seem to be at increased risk for HPV infection and associated sequelae of HPV infections such as genital warts and dysplasia.

Cervical and anal/genital cancers, precancerous cervical tissue abnormalities, genital warts and wart-like lesions, and cervical cell dysplasia have been associated with infection with specific HPV types. Cervical cancer is the leading cancer among women in Africa.  The report of a workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the evidence of the effectiveness of condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) concludes that co-infection with HPV and HIV may lead to increased risk of cervical neoplasia and anal cancers among persons infected with HIV, as HIV suppresses the body’s immune system.

There is little known about the prevalence of HPV in sub-Saharan Africa. Few studies on the prevalence of any STI, let alone HPV, have been conducted in the region. Of the available recent published reports, HPV research often covers specific populations in geographically specific areas of a country. For example, a 2001 study of HPV genotypes among 262 women in a rural area of Mozambique found that 40 percent of women in the study tested positive for at least one type of HPV. A 2003 study of 429 female family planning clinic attendees in urban Nairobi, Kenya, found an HPV prevalence of 44 percent. In addition, research sample sizes have been small and non-representative, making it difficult to generalize to entire populations, and advanced definitive diagnostic methods for HPV have only recently been made available. There have been no national or sentinel surveillance programs to assess HPV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately HPV prevalence in the region.

Additional HPV epidemiological research in developing countries is needed to develop more effective HPV and cervical cancer prevention strategies. The focus of this research should include the prevalence of specific HPV strains associated with cervical cancer, the prevalence of cofactors affecting the progression to cervical cancer, region-specific risk factors for HPV infection and cervical cancer, and the association between HIV infection and HPV epidemiology. Screening and treatment programs for cervical cancer are also recommended to prevent cervical cancer deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.

Condoms have been shown to be effective in preventing the transmission of many STIs, including HIV/AIDS. Because HPV is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact and genital fluids, HPV is not entirely preventable through condom use. Laboratory and field-based research to evaluate the effectiveness of condoms in preventing HPV transmission has been limited, but correct and consistent use of condoms can be expected to decrease (though not eliminate) the risk of transmitting HPV. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a number of studies show an association between condom use and a reduced risk of HPV-associated diseases, including genital warts, cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. The previously mentioned 2001 NIAID workshop report recommended that robust research be pursued to ascertain the true benefits and limitations of an available risk reduction technology latex male condoms for preventing the transmission of STDs. At the same time, research on additional prevention technologies and behavioral interventions must also be pursued in order to advance the health of the public in the U.S. and abroad. For genital hpv relief there a well known and tested natural remedy is Genital Herpes Relief

Often when you suffer from bad breath you may not realise it at first and quite often your friends or family may be hesitant to tell you that you have bad breath as they won’t want to embarrass you. A true friend however, will tell you, as it is in your best interest to know so that you can take steps to rectify the problem.

It can be embarrassing when you find out that you have bad breath and you may become less social because of your embarrassing situation.

Sometimes having bad breath may also leave you with a bad taste in your mouth, so it is possible that you may become aware of the problem on your own. Conduct a simple breath test if you think that you are suffering from bad breath. Scrape your tongue with a spoon or a piece of cloth and then smell it to see if it smells bad. Or the other way to find out is to ask a close friend or family member. I know this can be embarrassing but its best if you find out so that you can do something about the problem.

Some people get very embarrassed and even upset if they are told that they have bad breath, but there is really no reason to be embarrassed as it is quite a common problem.

The usual reaction when finding out that you have bad breath is to obsessively brush your teeth and tongue and use mouth washes. Follow these steps if you are looking to overcome a short term bad breath problem.

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Brush your tongue daily
• Floss daily
• Drink lots of water
• Have a good clean by a dentist regularly

If you still continue to suffer from bad breath then it may be necessary to seek professional help.

The first person you should visit is your dentist. Chronic bad breath could be caused by gum disease or bacterial build up. You should have a good check up and mention the bad breath to your dentist so they can particularly look for anything that may be the cause.

If your dentist finds the cause of your bad breath then they will be able to treat the problem and rectify your bad breath problem.

If your dentist cannot find a cause for your bad breath then the underlying cause could possibly be an internal condition and you will need to visit your doctor or your dentist may be able to refer you to an expert in the appropriate field.

Your dentist, doctor or specialist should be able to uncover the cause of your bad breath which could possibly be something as simple as an allergy. Once you have identified the causes of bad breath then you can take the necessary steps to eliminating the cause and therefore getting rid of bad breath.

Discover more bad breath treatment tips at http://www.BadBreathKiller.com

Nail Fungus Natural TreatmentFingernails and toenails are the common breed of fungal infections. Though it is common, it is not really as easy to disappear. Everywhere we go, fungi are present, and they can give different effects on our body. Like a nail, for example. When infected, the nails will look thick and dull. Eventually, it will become crumbly and will result to the loss of your nails. Not only does it look very pleasing. It has a bad odor due to the fungus or death of the nail. Plus, it is very unhealthy and unhygienic.

Because of the strong resistance of our barriers against fungus entering the nails, once they get inside, they are as difficult to eliminate.There are treatments which can be either Topical, surgical, or by medications, to fight the fungal infection. However, they may be too costly –except Zetaclear found at Zetaclear which comes very cheap and is very effective in eliminating nail fungus infections- and they have to be continuous for a long time, or else nothing will happen even with the efforts. 

 Even if it may seem to clear up from time to time, they may return when the medication is not progressed. If you are unsure of the signs of having a nail fungus, you may want to see if the nails are becoming yellowish, and sometimes brownish. They also become thick and brittle which results to an easy breakage of the nails. Also check if the tips of the nails seem to be crumbling.To prevent nail fungus, you may want to avoid wearing nylons when possible and switch to cotton or natural wool instead. Do use breathable shoes when going out and always wash your feet and dry it thoroughly. 

 Sharing of wash cloths and towels are not advisable, as wet surfaces easily transmit bacteria. And if you do not really need to wear Nail polish, avoid them because they are one of the main causes of the infection. Same goes when already infected.Although you have these options (topical, surgical and oral) to remove the fungal infections, there are still some things in your house that you may temporarily use to treat it. If you are already prone to the infection, it is advisable to use a powder to help eliminate athlete’s foot. For more information visit: Zetaclear

How Nail Fungus Tropical Treatments Can Aid the Quick Treatment of Onchomycosis

How Nail Fungus Tropical Treatments Can Aid the Quick Treatment of OnchomycosisThere are some infections that may scatter through the frames of your nail. An example of a fungal infection that may take place is called an Onychomycosis. Although their visibility is not rare, these infections still seem to be challenging to treat.

There are more than 14% reported cases of this disease; however it may still not be accurate. Non-dermatophytic molds like a Scytalidium Dimidatum, and Dermatophytes are the ones who may be responsible for certain infections in the nails. Among the four clinical presentations, the Distal and Lateral Subungual Onychomycosis is the most common. A very dangerous type of infection is a Proxymal Subungual Onychomycosis. This is because they tend to be associated with AIDS.After your nails become infected with Onychomycosis, they tend to be thick, dull, fragile, and frail.

When the fungus starts to lift the whole nail off the patient, they will start to feel the pain. As it happens to all of the nails, this will eventually result to further loss.There have been various ways formulated to treat the fungal infection, and these include surgical procedures and the use of chemicals over the infected areas of the nails by Topical Antifungal solutions. Usually, you would have to use the product for about six months to see the result. Surgical procedures have a high success rate.

But there are still chances of permanent nail loss, and the patient may find the procedures painful. Most products have instructions like this, when using Topical Treatment on their infections: Use daily on the area infected. Each morning, the debris that remains should be removed using a spatula. Normally, the treatment lasts for two to four weeks.After going through the Topical method, and if there are still fungal infections, it may have to be removed surgically. Or, they can also recommend a prolonged treatment. In some cases, an Oral Treatment may already be required. This may take up to 6 months and may even have certain side effects. For more information visit: www.herbalbeautyclinic.com