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THE DIVISION OF STD, HIV,
TB
850-487-3159(MW)
850-921-1234(R&S) The primary goal of the Leon County Sexually Transmitted Disease/Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling and Testing (STD/HIVCT) Program is to
prevent the spread and resultant sequelae of sexually transmitted diseases
(STD's), & HIV.
The structure of the STD field services staff includes 12 highly trained disease
intervention specialists, supervisors and managers who are assigned to Leon County and the
surrounding area. These staffs provide confidential counseling, testing and
treatment for persons either diagnosed or exposed to an STD. Clients receiving our
services who are diagnosed with an STD are also offered partner referral services that
allows for the notification, screening and treatment of their sex or needle sharing
partners. the benefit of having a disease intervention specialist conduct partner
referral services is to notify sex and needle sharing partners of their exposure and offer
examination and treatment without compromising the confidentiality of the client who
elicits information about their partners. This service is provided to clients on a
voluntary basis and is strictly confidential.
The Field service staff provides individualized and group
education to hundreds of Leon County residents each year. The STD field staff offer
STD education at the local county health department, schools, juvenile detention centers,
community health fairs, local jails, teen centers, homeless shelters and other locations
throughout the community.
Leon County's STD field staff serve as the front line of
defense for intervening in the spread of STDs through field outreach activities that
include notifying persons who have been exposed to an STD, facilitating counseling,
screening and treatment for those partners, and conducting organized community outreach
screening for syphilis and HIV.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is A STD ?
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) are serious, sometimes painful, and can cause a lot
of damage. Initially STD's infect your sexual and reproductive organs: later they
can destroy other organs of the body. Other (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause
general body infections.
Sometime you can have a STD with no signs or symptoms. Other times, the symptoms
go away on their own. Either way, you still have the STD until
you get treated. A few STD's can not be cured. But most STD's can be
cured if you get treated.
How are STD's Spread ?
STDs' are spread during close, sexually activity and during vaginal, anal and oral sex.
some STD's (HIV and hepatitis B) are also spread by contact with infected blood.
Most STD germs need to live in warm moist areas. That's why they infect the
mouth, rectum and sex organs (vaginal vulva, penis and scrotum).
What do I do if I think I have a STD ?
If you think you might have a STD, get checked out. Don't just hope the STD will
go away. It won't! All county health
departments treat STD's. Private doctors also treat STD's.
If you don't know where to get help, call you local health department, or private
health care provider for information. All information you give will be
private and confidential.
You may feel embarrasses about having a STD but you must get treatment for the STD,
even if it is a hard thing for you to do. This is the only way you will get well.
STD's will not go away on its own, you must
see a health care professional for treatment. Most STDs
can be treated with antibiotics. Do exactly what your doctor tells you and be sure
to take all of your medicine. You also must tell your sexual partner(s). If
they aren't treated, they can spread the STD. They might even re-infect you.
What symptoms do I watch for ? view
webpage
Types of STD's view
webpage
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