STD awareness: Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus
APART from the HIV/AIDS virus, the disease which has been gaining popularity in the Caribbean is the HTLV-1- Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus type 1.
According to obstetrician/ gynaecologist Dr Jordan Hardie, HTLV- 1 is a ribonuecleic acid (RNA) virus that affects 10 million people worldwide and is endemic in the Caribbean, Asia, South America and parts of Africa.
Dr Hardie said the modes of transmission include sexual intercourse, breastfeeding, blood transfusion with infected blood, and sharing of needles by drug users.
Of note, he said the HTLV-1 may remain dormant in the body for many years and can lead to the development of a number of conditions including adult T-cell leukaemia, lymphoma, HTLV-1 associated myelopathy also known as Tropical Spastic Paraperesis (TSP), infective dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) and uveitis, which may lead to visual disturbances.
Other facts about HTLV-1 include:
1. Only a blood test can determine whether or not you have the virus.
2. Signs and symptoms include skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes (wax and kernels), backaches, difficulty passing urine, sensation of pins and needles in the feet, weakness in the legs, and a reduced sex drive.
While the virus isn’t curable, Dr Hardie said there are specific treatments for the diseases caused by the virus. Preventative measures that can reduce the spread of the virus include:
1. The use of condoms during sexual intercourse.
2. Refraining from breastfeeding if you have the virus. However, if breastfeeding is a must, it should be done for no longer than six months.
3. Refraining from donating blood.
4. Maintaining a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables.
People are urged to be informed about the disease, to exercise regularly, and to visit the doctor when they experience symptoms.
He said treatment is multi-disciplinary, involving many specialities including internal medicine, oncology, ophthalmology and dermatology.
