New HIV testing guidelines
New international HIV testing guidelines are encouraging couples to test together and for immediate initiation on antiretrovirals for the one testing positive.
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Coming out to help others Living with AIDS # 512
Two years after her diagnosis with HIV, Phindile Sithole-Spong saw no point in hiding her status anymore. Since she came out about her HIV status at the age of 19, the University of Cape Town graduate finds herself doing it over and over again to different audiences, so as to help others.
Skin cancer rising in young people
Indoor tanning beds and sunburn during childhood may be to blame for the rise in skin cancer among young people, according to a new study.
Cigarette firms interfere with tobacco fight
Public health policies aimed at reducing smoking-related deaths are being hampered by interference from the tobacco industry, said a recent report by the Framework Convention Alliance.
Menthol worse than regular cigarettes
Researchers, comparing the risks of menthol cigarettes to that of regular cigarettes, found that the stroke risk for smokers of menthol cigarettes was more than twice that of people smoking regular cigarettes. And for women, and non-black participants, the risk was more than three times higher.
Herbal remedy blamed for high cancer rate in Taiwan
More than half of all urinary tract cancers in Taiwan ' where use of traditional medicine is widespread ' are believed to be linked to a toxic ingredient in a popular herbal remedy.
TB, AIDS, and malaria are finding new ways to resist treatment
Rising drug resistance has turned what public health officials call today's Big Three infections ' HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria ' even more fearsome. Together, these diseases kill millions every year, representing 10 percent of all deaths globally. Worse, the trio of epidemics is tragically interconnected, with TB, for example, the leading cause of death among individuals infected with HIV.
MCC urged to make drug available
A promising new drug currently on trial offers the last hope for some patients with pre-extensively drug resistant (XDR) or XDR tuberculosis, and the life or death decision on whether to make it available rests with the Medicines Control Council (MCC).
NSP 2012 ‘ 2016 Living with AIDS # 511
Preventing new AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections is at the heart of the new National Strategic Plan (NSP) on HIV/AIDS, TB and STIs, which came into effect at the beginning of April.
Giving love
The most frequently cited study of HIV in the Muslim community found that more than two and a half percent of Muslim men were HIV-positive. That is significantly lower than South Africa's general population, but, enough to worry leaders in the community. Health-e News Service visited a centre that's reaching out to support women and children affected by HIV.
Gauteng aims big Living with AIDS 510
The Gauteng Health Department aims to test 3 million people for HIV and to put almost one million people onto treatment in the new financial year.
SA smokers want to quit
Many smokers in South Africa do not enjoy smoking and 'desperately' wish they could kick the habit.
Cancer diagnosis no death sentence
'Your results came back positive ' you have breast cancer. When would you like to have the mastectomy done?'
Indian cancer statistics, a model to be followed
Researchers were able to estimate how many people died from cancer in India in 2010 by using a novel method of projecting cancer deaths based on patterns of cancer mortality in a 2000-2003 sample of households.
Coping with MDR TB
There is only one way to get well after being diagnosed with Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB. It is to stay positive and to adhere to taking the prescribed treatment, says Siphamandla Nkukayi, an in-patient at Sizwe Hospital. Ayanda Mkhwanazi of Health-e News Service paid him a visit.