A STD primer
Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases not always apparent
By Douglas Engh
Staff Reporter
"Chlamydia is not a flower,” says a
brochure distributed by the University
Health Center, but rather the most
common sexually transmitted disease
(STD) among UNL students. Like many
other STDs, if left undiagnosed and
untreated, chlamydia can have devastat
ing effects, such as sterility, blindness,
or even Reiter’s syndrome, an arthritis
like condition.
A recent pilot research test taken by
the University Health Center revealed
that 15 to 25 percent of the men and
women at the university carry the
disease. It’s estimated that 60 to 80
percent of women, and 10 percent of
men show no symptoms, such as painful
urination, watery discharge, itching
and burning, and for women, bleeding
between menstrual periods.
But chlamydia isn’t the only STD to
be watched for:
Genital Warts, the second most
prevalent STD, causes painless cauli
flower like warts to appear around the
sex organs, as the name implies. Also
called venereal warts, they can be treat
ed by freezing or by topical medication.
Genital Herpes is now considered
epidemic nationwide and comes in two
types. Both Herpes Symplex One and
Two, are similar and can cause fever
blisters or cold sores around the mouth
or genitals. The victim may then exper
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for up to three weeks. Afterwhich, the
virus lies dormant with occasional
outbreaks of symptoms.
Gonorrhea can cause discharge
and urinary burning among males, while
having no symptoms among the majority
of women. Even so, it can lead to pelvic
inflammations and severe complica
tions, like sterility, if left untreated by
antibiotics.
Syphillis first shows up as painless
sores, called chancres, around the sex
organs, mouth or skin up to 90 days
after exposure. Following symptoms
include rash, loss of hair, and swollen
glands. These symptoms all clear by
themselves after several weeks, leaving
the disease difficult to visibly diagnose.
In later years, victims can suffer crippl
ing, blindness, insanity, and deterioria
tion of bones. One quarter of syphillis
victims eventually die.
Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) is the most talked
about STD in the past years. Its virus
can be found in the body fluids: blood,
semen and saliva, of those infected. It
can be transmitted by contaminated
blood transfusions or sexual contact.
As of yet, evidence does not prove it can
be transmitted by perspiration, saliva,
or tears.
AIDS leaves the body vulnerable to a
variety of other diseases. Since it shows
no initial symptoms, the only way for
detection is by a blood test. Although
homosexuals were once thought to be
the only high risk group for contracting
AIDS, the virus has been found increas
ingly among heterosexuals and IV drug
users who share needles.
The stigma of STDs and the privacy
of victims and potential victims creates
a great dilemma for those health work
ers involved. But the sensitive subject
of prevention and education must be
dealt with, said Dr. Gerald Fleischli,
medical director of the University
Health Center. He said the STD’s are of
special concern to college adults.
“The reason we’re so concerned is
that this age group is one in develop
ment, and one of the developmental
activities is secual activity," he said.
“A lot of sexual activity occurs
unplanned. People tend not to think or
plan ahead on getting the disease,” he
said. "Use of drugs, alcohol, peer pres
sure — things happen and the disease
is transmitted.”
But Fleischli doesn’t think the solu
tion is simple. He said that efforts in
STD prevention are inherently ambi
valent.
"There’s no problem in STD if you
abstain (from sex). But, every parent
needs to realize it’s an unrealistic
ideal, so a backup is needed,” he said.
His backup is a system of prevention
and treatment programs, Fleischli said.
The Health Center offers small group
presentations. Any campus group, such
as dormitory floors, fraternities, or
sororities, can arrange for a special
STD counselor to come and give a
presentation. This program, Fleischli
said, has really developed during the
past 18 months.
Other presentations come on a larger
scale. Last year, Dr. Richard Keeling, a
nationally-recognized authority on
STDs, gave a talk on campus. Talks
provide students with better national
information, said Dr. Fleischli.
Another form of education is a book
let produced by the Health Center
entitled “The Body Works.” A student
health guide, it is mass mailed to all
new freshmen and transfer students. It
includes a variety of health and safety
tips, along with descriptions of the
miyor STDs, diagnoses and treatments.
The Health Center also puts out a
semester newsletter sent to all stu
dents, faculty and staff which outlines
new health information.
Students who suspect they may have
a sexually-transmitted disease may go
to the Health Center for testing. A
Human Immunal Virus (HIV) test for
AIDS is given along with the other tests
for no additional charge. However, only
one STD can be tested for at a time, and
each test is individually charged.
If a person has tested positive,
treatment is available along with exten
sive counseling. Special admissions
nurses have been trained in both the
testing and counseling of HIV tests.
Since these nurses are also a part of the
normal admissions system, extensive
testing schedules can strain the admis
sions system, said Dr. Fleischli. If
students come to the Health Center at
certain times for other health reasons,
See STDs on 5
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