Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / May 9, 1986, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Common thread links AIDS sufferers by Dwight D. Sharpless Since the first case of Acquired Immune Deficiency was re ported in the Carolinas in 1982, the number of victims has mush roomed to 85 with 37 more sus pected. About a third of North Carolina’s 100 counties and al most a fourth of South Carolina’s 46 counties haVe reported at least one case. Since Mecklenburg County saw its first case in March 1984, about 15 patients have been treated there, includ ing 8 county residents. Local hos pitals have treated some AIDS patients. The number of deaths continue to mount. By 1985, 6,212 persons in the United States had died of AIDS. Compared with killer dis eases of the past, AIDS’s death toll is tiny. The Bubonic Plague of the 14th century is believed to have wiped out a third of the world. The Spanish Influenza of 1918 and 1919 killed 20 million. AIDS will probably not reach such epic proportions. Still it breeds fear by its nature. It has no cure and is almost always deadly. In two years researchers predict the United States will have over 50,000 cases and in five years perhaps 100,000. Many experts believe the virus was first passed to humans in the 1960’s, or earlier, by the African green monkey in Central Africa, perhaps through a bite. Though the first case in the United States appeared in 1978 the first in the Carolina was nearly 5 years later. The symptoms of AIDS fall into two categories. They may be due to a specific disease that is an ex pression of AIDS, such as the cough of Pneumoceptic Carinii Pneumonia, or they may reflect the underlying illness, such as the lymph node swelling seen in many AIDS patients. The symp toms explained here are ones that should prompt medical at tention. With the possibility that early treatment will improve the outcome, it is better to consult a doctor for what may turn out to be a minor problem than to worry in private, waiting for the problem to go away. Lymph nodes are found behind the ears and in the neck under the chin, but some also exist deep inside the body and cannot be de tected in a physical examina tion. Significant lymph-node swelling, the type that has been found in AIDS patients, is defined as swelling which has lasted for more than three months and af fects nodes in at least two areas of the body, including the groin. This sort of swelling can be caused by many things including commmon infections and reac tion to drugs. Anyone who finds lumps on his body should consult a doctor. PCP is a relatively new disease in the United State. The first case was reported in 1955. Until the re cent outbreak of PCP in AIDS pa tients, this infection has not been seen in people thought to have normal immune systems. The appearance of PCP was the tip- off that a profound alteration of the body’s immune function was the basis of AIDS. Before patients develop the specific symptoms of PCP, they often have non-specific com plaints; fever, fatigue and weight loss. These are followed by the classic symptoms of PCP: shortness of breath and a cough that is either dry or produces small amounts of white sputum. Some patients also have sharp chest pains when they inhale deeply. Pneumocystis enters the body through the lungs, but it is not clear how patients with low ered immune defenses become sick from it. It is not known whether they have caught a new infection or whether the infection has been lying dormant in the body and now runs rampant be cause their defenses are down. Even though test results indi cate that AIDS is contagious, there is no evidence to conclude that casual contact, such as hug ging, can spread the disease. There is also no evidence to sug gest that AIDS can be spread through the air, by sneezing or coughing. Even though it can be spread through sexual contact, many sexual partners of AIDS patients have not come down with the disease. Given the risks involved though, people should make every effort to protect themselves and others. Because the disease is new, its causes uncertain and its man ifestations varied, AIDS is ^fi- cult to define and describe. Stu dies show that roughly 72 percent of AIDS patients are gay men who live in large suburban cen ters. Forty-five percent of AIDS patients live in New York City; 12 percent in San Francisco and 6 percent in Los Angeles. Miami, Newark and Houston are also re porting a significant number of cases. While gay men accounted for the early reported cases, new groups have been steadily added to ' the' list. Heterosexual men and women who use intravenous drugs now account for 17 percent of AIDS cases. The Center for Disease Control reported in 1982 that 34 Haitians, none of whom was gay, and only one of whom used intravenous drugs, became the third group of people to get AIDS. Despite the diversity of people who got AIDS, there was a com mon thread. The link was that he patitis B was also prevalent in those groups at greatest risk from AIDS. Both hepatitis B, which is caused by a virus, and AIDS were probably transmitted in the same ways: by sexual con tact, contaminated needles, and blood transfusions and both dis eases were likely to have a simi- liar cause: a virus The Compass Elizalteth City, N.C. May 9,1986-.Page 5 Your Horoscope by Edith Taylor Taurus: April 20 - May 20 Be on your best behavior at mancial situations will this time. Try not to get involved easy to handle now. in something you can’t handle. In continue to other words, use your head and grow stronger, so do not hesitate don’t make hasty decisions. enjoy it top the fullest. Cancer: June 22 - July 22 Sagittarius: Nov. 23 - Dec. 21 Your emotions may get a little ^ friend may try to get into stirred up, but grab a hold of your personal business but find a. yourself. Life is confusing, but politely tell him to stay can be easily dealt with if you If you have a problem, try to keep yourself together. Money problems are few this time. Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan. 20 Gemini: May 21 - June 21 Encourage a friend to get his act Some financial situations may together. Tell him life is short but| need to be dealt with, but they goodness if he makes iti aren’t too serious that they can’t "'^y- Take some of the be handled. Your love life will be- money that you have been saving come pleasurable and most en- ^^y something you have during. I^^en wanting for a long time. Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22 You wm be unbearable to live Aquarius: Jan. 21 - Feb 19 with at this time, but you’ll grow ^ out of it. You will also find that I®™ life is full of pleasures. So go out ^ going to seem tough, and enjoy yourself remember that every Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 23 ® This month is a time of relaxa- could come out of this on top tion for you. Take it easy and en- ^ ° right thing, joy all things that come by. Pisces: Feb. 20 - March 20 Watch out for anything that , sppms iinrpal I decision on your future. Don’t de- Libra: July 23 - Aug 22 ^he making of this deci- A surprise will come about this ^ *o your advan- month. A new love life which you . have longed for will come into March 21 - April l9 existance. Take it slow and cher- ^P^i^g is here and life is full of ish the fun moments that you will ®^rises for you. Love is in the share. It could be worth the wait, that move. WEU Mr YOU TO GET MTO SHAPE TNB SUMMER. If you’re a sophomore, six weeks at our Army ROTC Basic Camp can earn you approximately $600. It could also earn you the opportunity to enter our 2'Year Program this fall and begin receiving up to $1,000 a year. For more information, contact your Professor of Military Science. ARMY ROTC BEAUrOUCAMBI. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT CAPTAIN FISHER OR MAJOR ALLBN AT THE ROTC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OR PHONE 33S-3490 .TODAY
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 9, 1986, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75