A.I.D.S. — Counselling for Seropositivity
| Author | A. Rosser |
| Published date | 01 October 1986 |
| Date | 01 October 1986 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8605900406 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
MRS.
A. ROSSER.
A.I.O.S. -COUNSELLING FOR
SEROPOSITIVITY
Before we were haunted by the spectre of A.I.D.S., there was
already a swing from the ways of the permissive, promiscuous
sixties. It's possible to have
too
much of a good thing and many
were beginning to find the pressures for having sex at the "drop of a
hat" too much for them. The danger of A.I.D.S. has already made
responsible and caring homosexuals limit their sexual activities and
remain faithful to one partner.
When people ask for their blood to be screened for the A.I.D.S.
virus (HTLV III) it's because they feel they are at risk. Some have
been ill for some time and fear they may have A.I.D.S. Quite often
in the case of covert bi-sexuals or covert homosexuals,
psychosomatic symptoms resembling A.I.D.S. are brought on by
feelings of guilt.
A positive result of the screening always comes as something of a
shock. Some could never ask to be screened because they feel they
couldn't live with the knowledge of their seropositivity. Others may
wish to buy ahouse or flat or take out lifeinsurance and they realize
that if their tests showed them to be seropositive, this would mean
they would be a bad risk.
Whether positive or negative, it should be borne in mind that
those seeking screening have good reason to do so and careful
counselling should be given to both groups. It can take from seven
weeks to a year for the antibodies to HTL V III to form in the blood
and the possibility of this long false-negative reaction is causing
most concern. It means
that
fully blown A.I.D.S. is just the tip of
the iceberg and a huge reservoir of infected persons exists, capable
of passing on the infection.
Within this great reservoir if asymptomatic carriers who show a
negative result when screened, are some who behave responsibly
altering their life-style in order to maintain their own good health
and not to pass on possible infections to others. Unfortunately,
others who presume they are free from infection, despite a warning,
carryon
with their life-style and have casual sex with many partners.
It is understandable that there are numerous very fearful people
who are not actually at risk. When dealing with seropositives it is
most important to point out the difference between A.I.D.S. and
seropositivity. Many infected with HTLV III will remain well and
not go on to have A.I.D.S. (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome). Armed with the knowledge of their seroposivity they
can make those important changes in their life-style, to avoid
further infection and to avoid passing it on to others.
October 1986 331
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