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Venereal disease has become epidemic in the past decade. Understandably, there is reason for concern for the health of your family. Your best defense is knowledge of the subject and the use of a few precautions.

There are two forms of the herpes virus: Simplex I and Simplex II. In the past, recurring cold sores on the lip were caused by the former and genital sores by the latter. This is no longer true. As it was put by a public nurse, "With everyone doing everything to everybody everywhere there is no longer a distinction between the two types". There is no known cure for the disease caused by either strain of the virus.

The herpes virus enters the body through mucus membranes near the eyes, mouth, and genital areas. At the point of entry, a painful sore erupts. On the first episode, this can be accompanied by a fever and flu-like symptoms. The virus then travels through the nervous system and remains dormant in the spinal column until the next outbreak.

The herpes virus itself is contained in the fluid within the blister-covered sore. As long as there is liquid draining from the sore, the condition is contagious. The duration of this phase is from seven to ten days.

The herpes virus is not airborne. It survives and is transferred on moist, warm surfaces. It dies almost immediately on cold, dry surfaces. It can be transferred through touch since the fingers provide conditions conducive to its survival. If the eyes are infected, blindness can result.

The herpes virus is particularly dangerous to infants from birth to one year old. In babies, the virus affects the neurological system and can cause retardation, neurological damage and even death. A girl with herpes, either genital or oral, should not be placed in a home with an infant under one year old. Neither should a shepherding home take in two girls if one is infected and one is not.

If a girl does have herpes and it becomes active during her stay, the risk of spreading infection can be minimized by following some simple precautions. The most effective precaution is frequent hand washing by the girl and by those who come in contact with her. She should also do her own laundry and use her own towels. Paper cups and paper towels in the bathrooms would also help.

A pregnant girl who has vaginal herpes should be routinely checked from thirty-six weeks on in her pregnancy. If the herpes becomes active around the time of delivery, the baby should be taken by caesarean section. However, if the herpes in inactive at the time of delivery, a vaginal delivery is safe.

If a girl has either oral or vaginal herpes that is active when she brings the baby home from the hospital, she should be extremely cautious in handling her baby. Hand washing should be done carefully and often, especially before nursing. If the herpes is oral and active, she should wear a surgical mask when holding her baby. Remember that these precautions are only necessary during the blister stage of the outbreak. The condition becomes non-contagious when the blisters dry up, even if the sores are still present.

This STD is epidemic in this country. The only symptom is a sore on the cervix of the woman that remains about one week. Gonorrhea is particularly dangerous to women because the sore cannot be felt and there are no other immediate symptoms. Women usually discover the condition when a pelvic infection has resulted. If it is not treated in time, sterility can result. Gonorrhea is cured by antibiotics. To test for its presence, a culture smear must be done. This test is routinely performed by county clinics on pregnant women. However, many private doctors will not perform the test unless it is specifically requested of them. Gonorrhea in the pregnant woman can cause blindness in the newborn. To prevent this, silver nitrate drops are routinely applied to the eyes of all newborn babies.

This STD has only recently become a major health concern. It is now the leading cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility in women. The test to detect it is not readily available at this time. A new simple and inexpensive test is being developed and should be available to doctors and clinics in the near future. Chlamydia is also successfully treated with antibiotics. There is some indication that infants born to infected women may develop lung and eye damage.

While this STD does not pose a serious threat to the woman, it is extremely uncomfortable. The symptoms include itching in the genital area and a foul-smelling discharge. As with the other STDs, this condition is successfully treated with antibiotics. The trichomoniasis bacteria has been found in infants born to infected women. Consequently, the infants suffered from fever, irritability, vaginal discharge, and failure to thrive.

If a girl comes to you who has been sexually active, we recommend that tests be run for the above listed STDs. Usually county clinics are equipped to run these tests at little or no cost.

While most girls experience problem-free pregnancies, some develop minor or even major medical problems. For this reason, be aware of the warning signs for potential problems.