What all young people need to know about STD, HIV, and
AIDS
STD: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, including HIV/AIDS, 3rd
edition, by John T. Daugirdas, M.D., is a valuable new tool designed to
teach about HIV/AIDS and other common sexually
transmitted
diseases.
Search the WEB for
STD/HIV information with
"USE_IT".
Complete, current (1992
copyright date, but information reviewed in 1996 for current printing)
Focuses on HIV/AIDS and on
five other major STDs: Chlamydia, genital warts,
herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Grade 7 reading level, with content aimed at Grade 7-12
Extremely visual with
integrated
text and graphics (examples below)
Humorous cartoons help draw
interest
Abstinence taught as the
major strategy for STD/HIV avoidance
Focuses on decision making and
skills in How to say, "No!"
Glossary, Review Questions
List of AIDS Hotline Telephone
numbers
STDs are infections
The danger
Gonorrhea/chlamydia:
ABDOMINAL PAIN
Gonorrhea/chlamydia: SYMPTOM REVIEW
Laboratory tests
Abstinence, prevention, condoms
The STD phone call (partner notification)
At the doctor's office
Note: Scanned imagefiles do not reproduce the text in
the sample pages clearly. All graphics by Pierre Durand of
Montréal,
Québèc. All graphics are copyright by Medtext, Inc. and
may not be reproduced for any reason without prior permission of the
publisher.
Part one: Basic information
What are STDs and how are they transmitted?
Signs and Symptoms
...Chlamydia and gonorrhea
...Syphilis
...Herpes-2
...Genital warts
...HIV and AIDS
...Review
Non-STD causes of STD symptoms
...Discharge and/or
burning
...Pain in the lower abdomen
...Sores/blisters/pimples/warts
During pregnancy
Lab tests
...Looking under the
microscope
...Swab tests (cultures)
...Checking the blood
Treatment
...Tests
...Antibiotics
...Partner
notification
...What kind of doctor to see
...At the doctor's
office
Part two: Prevention
Abstinence
Mutual Monogamy
Danger of using drugs
Latex condoms
Decision making
How to say
"NO!" when you don't want to
Part three: Case Reports
Spring Break
Party
Macho Man
Time Bomb
Part four: Appendices
Other causes of burning
and increased vaginal discharge
...Cystitis, Candida,
Trichomonas, Gardnerella
Other causes of pimples, blisters and genital sores
Scabies
Pubic lice (pediculosis)
Viral
Hepatitis
Glossary
Review questions
AIDS telephone hotline numbers
Kliatt
American Library Association's Booklist
School Library Journal
Family Life Educator
All Book Reviews are copyright by the publishers of the
reviewing magazines and may not be duplicated without their express
permission.
Every time I open a reviewing journal,
I see another new book on STDs or, more specifically, AIDS. In some
respects this is one such book, but some aspects make it stand out above
the rest. The book's success lies in the author's ability to present
infromation in a manner that will allow YAs to read and understand the
material. The text is simple and the book is filled with illustrations,
some a little unorthodox, but nonetheless effective. The six major forms
of STDs are reviewed: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, genital
warts, and HIV.
Both text and illustrations permit the author to effectively
present information on each of these topics for an individual disease:
signs and symptoms; treatment, prevention (yes, the role of abstinence
is discussed). Perhaps this is a shortcoming, as the depth of the
discussion is not great. The pertinent information is clearly and
correctly presented, but there's not much beyond that. Readers will find
a question and answer section and list of worldwide telephone numbers
where one can call for help. There is also a section on how to
effectively say no to sex..
Daugirdas, a medical doctor, has produced an effective and useful
book for YAs. The information is clear, concise, and exactly what teens,
and adults, need to know. This book is definitely worth buying -- in
multiples.
Gr. 8-12. Though the chapter on decision-making has been
slightly expanded, subject coverage and organization remain much the
same as in the second edition of this helpful overview [BKL O 1 91].
Even so, this revision warrants a second look for several reasons.
First, and probably most important, is the simplification of the
language, a change that will make the text accessible to more readers.
Unnecessary medical terminology has been pruned ... and complex
sentences have been restated more directly. Also, photographs have been
added, and some of the first edition's unattractive, puzzling diagrams
are now gone, replaced by more pleasing illustrations. The changes make
an already useful overview even better. --Stephanie Zvirin
Gr 9 UP
-- This guide resembles a medical pamphlet more than a book, but the
combination of down-to-earth advice, medical jargon, and explicit
diagrams works. Unconventional cartoons and simple drawings are
interspersed with minimal text that outlines causes, symptoms, lab
tests, treatment, and prevention of all the major STDs including HIV and
AIDS. Nonsexually transmitted conditions that produce similar symptoms
and other common diseases associated with the genital area are also
covered. An appendix includes a review of the facts in
question-and-answer format and international hotline information.
Fictitious case studies and an extensive glossary enhance the
presentation. More entertaining than most standard words on the subject,
the book will certainly attract browsers and supply readers with vital
information. There is, however, no index. Nourse's Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (Watts, 1992) provides more in-depth coverage, but Daugirdas's
presentation will appeal to a wider audience. -- S.N., Arlington
Senior High School, LaGrangeville, NY
Reviewed by
Carter Milhouse. In an age when AIDS dominates the talk about STD,
a refernce text for other STDs, manyof which are truly epidemic, is
welcome. Middle school teachers dealing with the education of youth in
the areas of health and STD will find this modestly priced book
extremely useful, especially those who may be new to the subject and
could use an easily understood reference to help them field questions
from students. District guidelines and communty attitudes toward a
family life or sex ed program would affect adoption of the book as a
student text. The book's best audience, other than teachers, is probably
upper high school and college students. While the illustrations are in
good taste and add humor, they might lead to problems (jokes, coloring
text, etc) if used with younger students.
The book is divided into four main parts: Basic Information,
Prevention, Case Reports, and Appendices. Part One is the heart of the
informational reference. It covers basic definitions, bacterial versus
viral infections, a review of the six main STDs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea,
Syphilis, Herpes-2, HPV, and HIV), the dangers of contracting STDs, risk
behaviors rated as high, medium or low, and some general statistical
information. A section on signs and symptoms follows, providing a
detailed look at each of the six STDs, and an excellent description of
how each disease is transmitted, risks, and symptoms. The next section
deals with the non-STD causes of STD symptoms. The purpose is to keep
the reader from needless worry when a common condition may act like an
STD when in fact it is not. Daugirdas deals with the major symptoms
(discharge and burning) for both male and female and refers the reader
to the appendices for more detailed information. This section is
followed by one on STDs and pregnancy. Risks before, during and after
birth are discussed and a "complications summary" is provided at the end
of the section. Lab tests and treatment are covered next. These are
particularly valuable sections; students often have questions about
these topics but they are rarely covered in health classes. Daugirdas
discusses the "T.A.P." method (Tests, Antibiotics, and Partner
Notification). At the end of this section a table on "incubation
periods" is provided. Types of doctors to see (for both men and women)
are discussed as are the importance of prompt medical advice, the types
of exams one could expect to have and what type of follow up may be
needed.
Throughout the book, the information is presented in a clear and
easy to understand way. This section would be especially helpful to
students at risk who have not seen a doctor because they are
apprehensive about what to expect. Daugirdas repeatedly states that it
is always better to get medical advice if you have been at risk or are
currently engaging in risky behaviors. Part Two discusses prevention.
Abstinence is covered first, followed by mutual monogamy, the dangers of
drug use (contamination, impaired judgment, poor social circle) and the
proper use and risks of latex condoms. The next section puts these basic
areas into a decision making context. It is broken into four basic
areas: postponement for those still abstinent, decisions for those
already involved, returning to abstinence, and how to say no. Each part
examines and discusses the consequences of each decision. Part Three
deals with four possible scenarios or case reports. Again, this is
section is probably best suited for upper high school or college
students and as teacher background information. These are consequence
cases and the underlying message would seem to be the importance of
abstinence and forethought. Five appendices go into greater detail in
the areas of other causes for increased vaginal discharge or
burning;other causes for pimples, blisters and sores on the genitals;
scabies; crab lice (pediculosis); and viral hepatitis (which includes
discussion of Type A, B and C). A short, usable glossary, a section of
review questions with a good overview/outline, and a listing of AIDS and
STD telephone hotlines for English speaking countries are included.
Chicago Public School System
Some schools using this book
To send feedback to the author
Ordering
terms: (books have now been reprinted (11/96) and are again
available!)
Institutions: Purchase order required
Individuals:
Prepayment by check required.
Credit card orders: Not accepted at
this time.
Sample copies: Not distributed (sorry).
Prices and volume discount:Single book price $14.95; for
orders (to schools only) of 20 books or more, price is $7.50 per book.
Bookstore discount: 0-5 copies, 25% off, 5-20 copies, 40% off, more than 20
copies, 50% off. Add $1.50 shipping for first book and $0.50 for each
additional book (for more than 20 books bulk shipping costs apply). Orders
and inquiries to:
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Hinsdale, IL 60521
(708)325-3277 ; fax (708)887-1446
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