GERMS
How To Stay
Healthy on
the Street
OUR CREDIT PAGE
We are:
Angie Giroux
Anna Kosztin
Beverly Dick
Bob
Wasylishen
Dennis Chernyk
Dynamite
Fred Weller
George
Joe Parisien
Kerry
Leon Ward
Jeff
Lionel
Jim Davis
Debbie O’Neil, R.N., B.Sc.N.
Jennifer Taylor, R.N., B.Sc.N.
John Gee, typesetting and layout
Special thanks to the rest of the Streetworks staff:
Amber Auger
Marliss Taylor, R.N., B.Sc.N.
Ann Half
Peter Norris
Jody Slaght
, R.N., B.Sc.N. Sandra Johnson
Kirsty Hannah
Theresa Jasperson, R.N.,
Maija Prakash
B.Sc.N.
We’d like to thank the following people for their input
and suggestions:
Anita Hanrahan, Communicable Disease Control,
Capital Health
Dr. Ethel Blondel-Hill, Regional Public Health, Capital Health
Maggie McGinn, Living Positive
Nayana Somaiah, Boyle McCauley Health Centre
Trish Murphy, Royal Alexandra Hospital
We’d also like to say many thanks to the Edmonton Community
Lottery Board and Health Canada for funding this project. The ideas
and information in this book do not necessarily reflect the views of
Health Canada.
Some graphics were borrowed from the Hepatitis C information
sheet produced by the B.C. Persons with AIDS Society and
Vancouver Native Health Society. The cover graphic and the
graphics on page 38 were borrowed from Alex Hill of Imagine Grafx.
Thanks!
We’d like to dedicate this book to all our street friends who went to
prepare a place for us. This one’s for you.
It is our hope that this book will bring helpful information to those
who want and need it. Please contact Streetworks if you wish to buy
WHAT'S INSIDE
THE BASICS.............................. 2
ABOUT THIS BOOK .................... 4
GETTING HELP ........................... 5
GERMS .................................... 6
HEPATITIS C........................... 11
HIV/AIDS............................... 18
MONO (Mononucleosis) ................ 24
FLU (Influenza) ......................... 26
COLDS................................... 28
WARTS .................................. 30
PINK EYE ............................... 32
MENINGITIS
(Spinal Cord Infection) ................. 34
ENDOCARDITIS
(Heart Infection) ....................... 36
TB (Tuberculosis) ....................... 38
STREP THROAT ........................ 41
FOOD POISONING .................... 44
LICE ..................................... 46
SCABIES ................................ 49
MEDICATIONS (Drugs) ................ 51
CONCLUSION .......................... 54
GLOSSARY .............................. 55
3
THE BASICS
Washing your
hands is the best
way to keep germs
OUT of your body.
Wash your hands
A LOT.
NOT A
BUGS LL
NEED
DRUG
ger ms S™. Som
e
will g
o awa
y on
their
own.
o
(als en)
™
l
o
n
oph
Tyle etamin er. Try
d ac your liv liver is
e
l
l
a
c
on if your .
d
r
d
a
is h take it amage
o
d
t
not lready
a
WHERE TO GO
FOR INFO:
• public health centre
• needle exchange program
• doctor
• nurse
• printed information (booklets/pamphlets)
• the internet
• the library
• drug store)
Antib
DON’T iotics
kill viru
ses.
4
DON’T SHARE:
• Rigs and equipment
(you never know what germs are
there)
• Medications (different germs need
different medications and some
people may be allergic)
™
• Smokes
irin
d
Asp calle ic
yl
so
(al lsalic rd on t
o
ty
ha
ace an be . Try n e
ch
d) c
hav
aci stoma f you
r
ti
you take i ers.
ulc
to
Aspiri
not be n™ should
take
teenag
ers bec n by kids or
Reye S
a
yndrom use it can ca
damag e (can caus use
e
e or ev
en dea brain
th)
as
are alth .
e
e
s
Som ave h e line .
h
n
ook
ht
ho
mig tion p one b
r ph
rma
info ck you
Che
Most emergency
departments and
health clinics will not give
health advice over the
phone.
5
ABOUT THIS BOOK . . .
•
Trying to stay healthy on the street can be TOUGH.
•
This is a book about germs, how you can catch them
and how you can get rid of them.
•
Sometimes you can catch things that can go away on
their own and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you
need medicine to get rid of germs. Sometimes germs
stay for a lifetime.
•
Sometimes you need to see a doctor and sometimes
you don’t.
•
This book was written by a group of people who are
from the street and some nurses.
•
Keep in mind that information changes as time goes on.
We used the newest stuff we could find.
•
There is a lot to read in this book. Try to read a bit
at a time.
•
This book will hopefully clear up crap you’ve heard and
give you some pointers.
None of the characters in this book are
real people. All names and stories are
made up.
6
GETTING HELP
•
You don’t always need to see a doctor when you are
sick.
•
Things like the flu or a cold are caused by viruses and
will usually go away on their own. If after a few days
you don’t feel better, THEN see a doctor.
•
In the emergency department, people who are
the sickest are seen first. You may have to wait
(sometimes for hours).
Be sure it’s an emergency
before you go. Try and
see your own doctor of
it’s not an emergency
Sometimes people
from the
street get a
hard time from
hospitals and doctors.
Usually if you show
respect you’ll get
it back. A lot of health professionals don’t have a clue
what it’s like to live on the street. They also might
be afraid to ask questions. Be honest and help them
understand where you’re at.
•
•
Remember, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE TREATED
FAIRLY.
•
Be careful of the advice you take (from other
people and the Net). The information you get may
not help and may make you worse. Find out as much
information as you can first. Check it out!
7
What are they?
GERMS
VIRUSES
Very small (you can’t see
them).
• Antibiotics don’t kill viruses.
• Some virus infections never
go away (HIV, Hepatitis C).
Having these infections can
make you feel shitty, but you
can do some things to help with that.
• Some infections can flare up at
times (like Hep C).
•
Most medicines don’t cure an
infection by a virus. There are
medicines that can help your
Not all
body slow down the virus so it
bugs need
doesn’t grow like wildfire. They
drugs.™
can help you live longer.
•
Some virus infections go away
on their own.
•
Infections from viruses:
• Hepatitis A, B, C.
• HIV
• Flu
• Colds
• Mono (sometimes called
the kissing disease)
• Warts
• Some infections of the
lungs and brain and spinal
cord (meningitis).
• Some kinds of pink eye.
8
There’s so many
f*&#$% germs,
you’d think we’d
be sick all the
time!
BACTERIA
•
•
•
•
Small, but not as small as a virus.
Can live pretty much anywhere.
Really like warm, dark, wet areas
to grow. Some just hang out and
don’t hurt you. Some are good
for you.
Some are bad and spread to
cause infection.
•
Most can be helped with
medicines called antibiotics.
Some things can
be caused by
either a virus or
bacteria.
•
•
Infections caused by bacteria:
•
TB
•
Strep throat
•
Endocarditis (infection in
your heart)
•
Food poisoning(some can
be caused by viruses too)
Some kinds of pink eye
Some kinds of lung, brain, and spinal cord infections
BUGS
•
•
•
Small (but you might be able
to see them)
Some live in water, some on
people, some on animals, or in
insects
Most can be cured with medicine
Infections with bugs:
• Lice & crabs
• Scabies
9
What does your body do?
•
•
•
•
•
•
SKIN – stops germs from getting
in your body.
SNOT - it’s sticky and it traps
germs. You blow out the germs
when you blow your nose.
SPIT AND TEARS - has stuff in
it (called enzymes) that help kill germs
STOMACH - has acid in it that kills germs (that’s why
it burns and tastes gross when you puke)
THROAT - has tiny little hairs that trap germs and
push them up to your mouth and nose so you can
cough and sneeze them out (like when you cough up a
greenie)
HAVING A CRAP & TAKING A LEAK – helps get rid of
stuff that builds up in your body.
What if the germs still make it inside your body?
•
IMMUNE SYSTEM – Keeps you healthy, kills germs.
Hard to understand, but really helpful. There’s a
bunch of different cells that float around in your
blood and body. They come running to fight off germs
that end up where they shouldn’t
be.
Things that screw with what your
body does:
•
Not enough sleep
•
Not eating well
•
Drinking hard, sniffing,
popping pills a lot
10
•
•
•
•
•
Using/fixing a lot/
out of control
Stress
Not having a
warm, safe place to
live
Taking certain
medicines
Living hard
How germs can be
spread
•
•
•
•
•
•
Yeah, easy to say you
should eat well, sleep,
don’t drink, “just say
no”, blah blah blah;
not always easy to do.
Every little bit helps.
Anything you can do
to stay healthier will
help in the end.
Sharing rigs & equipment
like spoons, water, filters,
cookers, straws
Sex
Coughing and sneezing
Touching
Kissing
Touching things
Different germs are spread in
different ways. Like HIV can get
from one person to another person
by having
sex or
sharing
needles
and
equipment
NOT, by coughing, sneezing,
or casual touching.
11
What about vaccines
(immunizations)?
•
•
•
•
12
A vaccine is a shot that will
help your body’s immune
system. Vaccines are used to
prevent diseases.
Vaccines tell your body to
make the cells that fight off
germs.
What sucks is that there aren’t vaccines for every
germ. For example, there are vaccines for Hepatitis
A & B but NOT for
Hepatitis C or HIV.
•
In most places, some
vaccines are free and
some you have to pay
for. Mostly the free
ones are for people
that really need them.
Like Hepatitis B is
free for people who have a high chance of getting the
germ (like people who fix).
To find out more about vaccines, talk to your doctor
or a nurse at a
health centre or
public health clinic.
You can also talk
to your needle
exchange.
HEPATITIS C
Slash has a big bash to show off his new place. All of his
buddies are there. People are drinking, fixing, smoking ...
The sun comes up and people split.
Bubbles fixed coke at Slash’s party.
She always uses her own rigs. BUT,
she shared Slash’s spoon, thinking
that would be OK. What she didn’t
know is that Slash has hepatitis C.
She went to exchange her rigs &
talked with the staff. The staff
said that sharing any equipment is
NOT OK and said that she should
see her doctor for some blood
tests. Bubbles didn’t have the guts
to go.
6 weeks later she wasn’t feeling
great so . . .
Bubbles finally decided to get the test.
The doctor at the health clinic told
Bubbles that sharing any equipment
like spoons, filters, vials, cookers,
rigs, and even water is NOT safe.
Bubbles would need to be tested
for Hepatitis B, C, and HIV. All of
these germs (viruses) can be spread
through blood and body fluids. The
doctor said that even if you can’t see blood in or on the
equipment, it might still be there.
13
The doctor said that Bubbles will
need to come back to find out
what the test shows.
When Bubbles went back to
see the doctor he told her that
the Hepatitis C test came out
positive. The Hepatitis B and HIV
tests came back negative. She
would need to be tested for HIV again in 3 months (HIV
testing will be explained in another story). The doctor
gave Bubbles the Hepatitis B vaccine to prevent her from
getting that virus.
Bubbles freaks. She wants to know what will happen
next.
The doctor tried his best
to explain what Hepatitis
C is.
•“Hepa” - means liver
(most medical words
that start with “hepa”
mean they have
something to do with
the liver).
•“itis” – means swollen
(most medical words that
end in “itis” mean swollen).
So your liver is sick and swollen.
Facts about Hepatitis C
People can get Hepatitis C when they get other people’s
blood into their body.
14
DON’Ts:
• Sharing needles or any
equipment like water, filters,
spoons, straws, cookers, vials
or spoons.
• Tattooing or body piercing
when the equipment is not
cleaned the right way after
being used.
• Sharing ink.
• Sharing toothbrushes or razors (sometimes blood
drops are so small you might
not be able to see them with
your own eyes).
What about sex?
Hepatitis C doesn’t spread
that easy through sex
BUT it’s always safer to use
a condom no matter what kind of
sex you’re having and no matter who
you’re having it with, or especially
when a woman has her period.
What happens?
•
•
•
2 out of 10 people may get rid of
the germ.
8 out of 10 people will have the
germ for the rest of their lives and
can pass it on to other people.
Some people will feel like they have
the flu when they first get the
virus.
15
•
•
The liver takes out crap & poisons from the blood.
Over time (maybe 20 or 30 years) the liver gets hard
(scarred) and can’t do its job anymore. This is called
cirrhosis. When this happens, the person starts to
get sick. The liver needs to work so people can stay
alive.
Some people with Hepatitis C can end up with liver
cancer later on in their life.
Signs of Hepatitis:
Feeling really tired.
Not feeling hungry.
Feeling like you’re going to throw up.
Yellow skin.
Yellow eyes instead of white.
Your shit may be white or cream
colored instead of normal brown.
• Pain in your gut.
• Pain in your joints.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Is there a cure?
•
•
•
16
NO.
It’s good to see a doctor regularly. The doctor can
check your liver to see how your body
is handling the virus.
There aren’t many drugs that are
used to treat Hepatitis C. A lot of
people can’t use the drugs that are
out there. Ask your doctor about
medicine.
What now?
Try to do your best to stay
healthy.
• Eat well.
• Sleep well.
•
Try to cut down or stop
drinking booze (whatever you can
handle).
•
Try not to use drugs that will
hurt your liver (ask a doctor,
pharmacist, nurse, or staff at a
needle exchange for info).
•
Try to cut down on Tylenol™,
T3s or T4s.
DON’T PASS IT ON!
•
•
•
•
•
Don’t share rigs, water, spoons,
filters, cookers, or vials if fixing.
Don’t share straws or pipes
if snorting or smoking (you
might have cracks on your
lips or nose where the germs
can get in).
Don’t share needles or ink
for tattooing.
The hepatitis germs are
so small they can easily be
hiding in any of these things.
Don’t share razors or
toothbrushes (sometimes your gums bleed).
17
What about Hepatitis A & B?
Hepatitis A
• You can get it if someone who has Hep A doesn’t wash
their hands after taking a dump & then touches food
that you eat.
• It takes about 1 month before you feel sick.
• You’re only sick for about 2–3 weeks (maybe longer)
and then you get better.
• If you already have
hepatitis C, hepatitis A
can make you VERY sick.
Hepatitis B
• You can get Hepatitis B if
Always Always
you get someone’s blood
use a condom no
OR body fluids from sex
matter what kind
into your body.
• It can take about 6
of sex you’re
weeks to 6 months
having, no matter
before you feel sick.
who you’re having
• If you already have
it with.
Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B
can hurt your liver more.
• There is a vaccine for
Hepatitis B. Talk to a
public health clinic, needle exchange, or your doctor
for more information.
Hepatitis A, B and C are viruses that hurt your liver.
They all have the same signs to watch for, BUT you catch
them in different ways.
18
Certain drugs can be hard on your liver when you have
hepatitis
These drugs are VERY HARD on your liver. Try NOT to
use these. (Talk to a nurse or doctor about using these.)
Tylenol™ (also T3s and T4s) - don’t take
too much!
Any kind of alcohol (Alcohol wears down
your liver over time - the less booze
you drink, the better.)
These drugs are HARD on your liver. Be VERY CAREFUL
if you use these:
Phenobarbital
Cocaine
Dilantin™
Crystal Meth
Depakene™
Ts & Rs
Aspirin™
Darvon™
These drugs are not as hard on your liver. Take care
NOT to overdo it. (These drugs can cause problems in
other parts of your body.)
Seconal™
Ativan™
Codeine
Tegretol™
Mushrooms
Mogadon™
Morphine
Methadone
Caffeine
Valium™
Heroin
Marijuana
Librium™
Chloral Hydrate
Gravol™
Check with your doctor if
you are using other drugs.
REMEMBER:
Take care when you use
any drug. Your liver won’t
be able to get rid of the
drug as fast, so you might
overdose with less drug.
All drugs do
something to your
body or brain. You
can’t always know
what will happen, so
take care.
19
HIV/AIDS
Fifi broke up with her old man the night
before the party at Slash’s. She was
drunk and slept with the guy next door.
3 weeks later, she met up with Slash.
He was worried about her because his
neighbor found out yesterday that he
has HIV. He told her to get tested.
Fifi went to the STD clinic and told the nurse what
happened. Fifi thought she was OK because she slept with
the neighbor 3 weeks before he found out he had HIV.
The nurse told her that HIV can be passed on even if a
person has not found out they have it. HIV can still be in
the blood and be passed on to other people.
Fifi got tested that day, but she
was told if it was negative she would
need another test in 3 to 6 months.
She would need to be careful about
protecting herself until the next
test. Fifi was scared shitless.
Fifi asked the STD nurse about HIV.
The nurse gave her some facts about HIV:
Human – means it happens in people.
Immunodeficiency – means it hurts the
immune system (part of you that fights off
germs)
Virus – the type of germ
20
Well then what is AIDS?
Acquired – means you catch it
Immuno – means the immune system
Deficiency – means it’s not working right
Syndrome – means HIV now shows symptoms
(you are getting sick)
So…HIV is the virus that causes
AIDS. If someone is HIV positive,
it means they have the virus.
Over time, the virus
might kill the immune
system. When the immune system no
longer works, the person will get sick. This
is called AIDS. People can die from the
infections that their immune system can’t
fight off.
Some people have HIV for many years
before they get sick.
The STD nurse talked to
Fifi about how people can
get the virus. HIV lives
in a person’s blood, cum
(girls and guys), and other
body fluids (blood and cum
have the largest amount
of the virus). If blood or
Remember, even if
you have HIV, you
can still get more
HIV if you don’t
protect yourself.
21
cum with the virus gets into
your blood, then you have a
chance of getting HIV.
HOW?
Sharing Rigs – the easiest
way to get or spread HIV because it goes straight into
the vein.
Sharing Equipment – spoons, cookers, vials, filters, and
water used for mixing. They might
look clean, but they can spread HIV if
they’ve been used by someone else.
Sex (straight fucking) –
Women: there’s lots of movement and
lots of chances for the woman to get
little rips in her vagina. When the guy
cums, it (and the virus) can get into the woman’s blood.
Men: there could be cuts or rips on the man’s penis that
he can’t see or feel. Another way for the virus to get in.
Anal Sex (up the ass) – this area is
NOT very wet and slippery without
extra lube, SO there’s a good chance
that the skin will rip. The virus can get
into the blood this way.
Oral Sex (blow job or eating out) –
open sores in your mouth are openings
for HIV.
22
Sharing sex toys – if the toy
has blood or body fluid on it, it
could also have the virus on it.
Clean the toy before you share.
Or put a new condom on the toy
each time you use it. (Use the
condom with only one person.)
Fifi asked if she would feel sick if she had HIV. The STD
nurse told her what could happen:
•
•
•
Some people feel like they have a really bad flu when
they first get the virus.
Some people don’t.
People with HIV may not look
or feel sick for many years.
Is there a cure?
•
•
•
•
Not yet.
There are medicines that will
help people live longer.
Starting HIV medications is a big decision to make.
♦ You need to take some with food so you don’t
puke (not easy when you have no money for
food).
♦ You need to take HIV meds 2 or more times a
day (whatever your doctor says).
♦ You need to take EACH dose EVERY day ( if you
miss doses too many times, the virus can change
and the meds won’t work at all and you can get
even sicker).
If you want to take HIV meds, talk to your doctor and
get as much information as you can.
23
DON’T PASS IT ON!
•
•
•
•
If you fix, use only your
own rig, water for mixing,
filter, cooker, vial and
spoon.
Don’t share straws or
pipes if snorting or
smoking ( you might have
cracks on your lips or
nose where the germs can get in).
Use condoms or dams no matter what kind of sex
you’re having no matter who you’re having it with (use
flavored condoms for blow jobs only).
Use extra lube with the condoms.
•
Don’t share needles or
ink
for tattoos.
•
Don’t share razors.
How you might feel when you
find out you have HIV
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
24
Angry.
That life is over.
Ashamed.
Confused.
Devastated.
Go into denial.
Think about ending it all.
What can you do?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ask someone you trust for advice.
Talk to someone you trust for support (there are
places you can go to talk to people who understand
what it feels
like to be HIV
positive).
Find out what
the facts are.
Ask your needle
exchange,
STD (sexually
transmitted
disease) clinic,
doctor, HIV
organization for
information.
Remember, not
everyone needs to
know.
Learn how to keep yourself healthy.
Learn how to keep others healthy.
Try not to panic and go hard to forget about it for
awhile. The healthier you can be, the better it is for
you.
Fifi’s HIV test came back negative. She will need to be
tested again in 3 to 6 months. She was very careful and
used a condom to keep herself and others safe.
25
MONO (Mononucleosis)
(say it like “mon-o-new-clee-o-sis”)
(KISSING DISEASE)
Star went to a party at the rooming house. She shared a
bottle of whiskey with her friend Snatch. About 4 weeks
later she started to feel like shit. She had a sore throat,
swollen glands, and a high fever. She felt tired. After
about 4 days, she wasn’t feeling any better. She went to
the doctor. The doctor said it looked like mononucleosis
(known as mono). He sent Star to the lab for a blood
test. The test came back positive for mono.
Star asked the doctor about it.
The doc explained that mono is caused by a virus.
How do you get it?
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Kissing
• Sharing drinks or smokes
Most people only get mono once in their life.
What does it look like?
•
Sore throat.
•
Fever.
•
Headaches.
•
White patches on the back of your
throat.
•
Swollen glands in your neck.
•
Feeling really tired, sleeping a lot.
•
Not feeling hungry.
•
Sweating when you’re sleeping.
26
How do you get rid of it?
• Your body will cure itself in time.
• The virus just has to run its course.
• It can take 4 to 7 weeks for
your body to show signs of
mono.
• Most people get rid of mono in
about 4 weeks.
• There are no medicines to help
get rid of mono.
The doctor told Star how to take
care of herself.
• Get lots of sleep.
• Drink lots of water or juice.
• Suck on cough drops or Popsicles™ for a sore throat.
• You can take Tylenol if you have a healthy liver or
Aspirin™ if you have a healthy stomach.
• Try not to be too
active. Moving around
too much can hurt your
spleen.
What to watch for:
A swollen spleen. The
spleen is found in your gut
on the left side. It works
as part of your immune
system. A swollen spleen
can also burst. This is
very serious and needs
medical help. Signs of a
swollen spleen: pain and
tenderness on the upper
left side of the belly.
27
FLU (Influenza)
It was a cold November and the
rooming house was full. Snatch
in #8 woke up feeling crappy.
His whole body ached and he had
chills even though he felt hot at
the same time. He knew he had
the flu. It seemed like everyone
in the rooming house had it over
the last week.
Snatch went to the medi clinic to
see if he needed antibiotics. The doctor told him that
the flu is caused by a virus and he would have to wait
it out. There is no cure. The doctor
said he could buy some cold and flu
medication from a drug store to help him
feel better.
Snatch asked about the flu shots that
the nurses gave out about a month ago.
He hadn’t got one. The doctor said that
if he had one it might have stopped him
from getting the flu.
It’s a good idea if people who have HIV, Hepatitis C,
asthma (problems with breathing), diabetes (messed
up blood sugars), chalk lung and some other life-long
sicknesses get the flu shot. People 65 years old and older
should get it too.
The flu can cause more trouble for people who are
already fighting long-term sicknesses.
28
The doctor gave Snatch some ideas of
how to take care of himself.
• Get lots of rest.
•
Drink lots of water
or juice.
•
Take Tylenol™ if
you have a healthy liver
or Aspirin™ if you have
a healthy stomach – it helps with muscle
aches and fever.
The flu should only last about 7 to 10 days.
PNEUMONIA (Lung Infection)
See a doctor if:
• The flu lasts longer than 10 days and
gets worse.
• You’re having a hard
time breathing.
• You’re coughing up
green or brown
crap.
These are signs that
you might be getting
pneumonia (a lung
infection). Sometimes
the flu can lead to
pneumonia.
29
COLDS
Crash drops by to see Star since she hasn’t been around
for a couple of days. When Crash opens the door to her
room he was almost buried in an a pile of
tissue. Once he dug his way out, he found
Star lying on her bed, sniffling and feeling
crappy. Star said she had a sore throat,
runny nose, cough, and felt like crap for
about 2 or 3 days. Crash told her he
couldn’t do much but get her some orange
juice and a new box of tissue, but if she
wasn’t better in a few days she should see a doctor.
What is it?
A cold is a virus that is in the head and chest.
What does it look like?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
feeling icky
stuffy, drippy, runny nose
sore throat
cough
headache
swollen glands (throat)
watery eyes
tired
shivers
sore ears
How do you get it?
•
•
30
Not all bugs
need drugs.™
not washing your hands
someone who coughs or sneezes on or around you.
Who can get it?
•
•
•
•
•
•
kids can get 8-10 colds each year
adults can get 3-4 colds each year
ANYONE CAN GET A COLD
being near someone who has a cold
a cold can lead to pneumonia
people who share stuff like cups,
bottles,toothbrushes, etc.
Cover
your
mouth
when you
cough or
sneeze.
How do you get rid
of it?
•
•
•
•
•see a doctor if you don’t get better
after a few days
•drink lots of fluids (non-alcoholic)
•lots of rest
•cough drops, chicken soup, heat rub
•Tylenol™ if you have a healthy liver
Aspirin™ if you have a healthy stomach and are 18
years or older
Eat as healthy as you can
Wait it out for a few days, but if symptoms last a long
time or don’t go away you should see a doctor (7-10
days). Don’t wait too long & listen to your body!
Antibiotics DON’T help
How to NOT get it!
• WASH YOUR HANDS LOTS
• drink lots of fluids (water,
juice)
• eat as healthy as you can
• listen to your body and sleep
when you’re tired
• don’t share smokes, bottles,
cups, etc.
31
WARTS
Dynamite noticed a small bump on
his finger and thought it looked
like a wart. Dynamite asked his
buddy what a wart was and how he
would have gotten it.
What is it?
There are several types of warts:
•
COMMON WARTS (hands):
♦
a rough, round bump
♦
usually found on hands,
fingers
and knees
•
PLANTAR WARTS (feet – and have
roots
that are deeper in your skin):
♦
small and shiny with a rough,
skincoloured surface
♦
usually found on bottom of
feet,
heels and
toes
♦
most painful because of where
they
are
♦
have deeper roots than other warts
•
FLAT WARTS (face):
♦
round or oval shaped and flat
♦
usually found on face, beard area,
hands and shins
♦
skin-coloured or light brown
What causes it?
Warts are caused by a virus.
32
How do you get it?
•
•
•
•
skin to skin contact
bathroom floors and showers (wash shower before you
get in)
gyms
pools
Who can get it?
Anyone can get warts.
How do you get rid of it?
There are many different
treatments:
• in-store products (like
Compound W™)
• sometimes warts go away on their own (in healthy
people)
• some warts can stay for years if not
treated
• see a doctor
How to NOT get it!
• Wear shoes
• Wash your hands
**Don’t cut warts off or chew them off.
Sometimes warts can go away on their own
and other times they can stay around for
years and must be removed by a doctor**
33
PINK EYE
(CONJUNCTIVITIS)
(say it like “con-junk-tiv-ite-is”)
Fanny and Boom Boom were putting on
eye make-up to get ready to go to work.
Fanny borrowed Boom Boom’s eyeliner.
Boom Boom told her that she shouldn’t
share someone else’s make-up because
you can end up with germs like pink eye.
What the f%#$* is pink eye? Boom
Boom said:
It is when the area around the eye gets infected.
What does it look like?
The eye can:
• Get red.
• “Inflamed” (swollen or
puffy).
• Itchy.
• Painful.
• Watery.
• Feels like there’s sand in it.
• Get crusty chunks overnight.
How do you get it?
Pink eye can be caused by a virus and sometimes bacteria.
It’s REALLY EASY to get pink eye. You can get it by
touching the infected eye or sharing things that touch
the eye, like make-up.
34
So… if someone touches their infected eye, they can
spread it to their other eye or whatever they touch (like
you or whatever else).
How do you get rid of it?
•
Pink eye should go away on it’s own after about
2 weeks. But, you can see a doctor for medicine
because it can be really harsh.
•
Wet a washcloth with warm or cold water (whatever
feels better) and put it over the eye to help with
the pain (make sure no one else uses this washcloth
because then they can get the
germ).
•
Wash your hands with soap
and water a lot (you touch your
eyes without knowing sometimes).
Washing your hands is the best
way to stop spreading it to the
other eye and other people.
•
Throw away any old eye make-up (there could be
germs on the make-up).
•
Wash the clothes, towels, pillowcases that you use.
Don’t share these things. Germs are sneaky.
•
If you’re using eye drops, make sure you don’t touch
the eye with the bottle (the bottle will end up with
the germ and you’ll have a hell of a time getting rid of
it).
•
See a doctor if the eye is not getting better.
35
MENINGITIS
(Spinal Cord Infection)
(say it like “men-in-ji-tis”)
Ratfish was watching the news and
saw that there was an outbreak of
meningitis. A couple people even died. When
Ratfish was at the needle exchange, he asked the
nurse about meningitis.
The nurse explained that meningitis can be caused
by a bacteria or a virus, or even a fungus.
Meningitis means that the thin lining covering
the brain and spinal cord (called the meninges) is
swollen.
Meningitis caused by a virus is NOT as serious as
meningitis caused by bacteria.
Viral Meningitis (caused by a virus) lasts about 7 to 10
days and goes away on its own.
Bacterial meningitis (caused by
bacteria) must be treated in the
hospital with antibiotics. People can
die from bacterial meningitis that is
not treated.
The nurse told Ratfish that the
outbreak of meningitis when people
died was caused by bacteria.
Ratfish wanted to know how you get it.
36
Meningitis can be spread
through spit and snot by:
•
Sharing drinks, smokes,
forks, kisses, etc. (spit).
•
Blowing your nose and not
washing your hands (snot).
What does it look like?
•
•
•
•
•
•
High fever.
Headache.
Stiff neck.
Puking.
Feeling sick to your stomach.
Bright lights hurt your eyes.
The best
thing to do
if you have
these signs
is go to the
doctor right away.
• If you have
bacterial meningitis,
you might have a
rash. This is very
serious and you
need to get to the
hospital.
You won’t be able to tell
what type of meningitis
it is.
You need special tests
to find out what kind of
meningitis you have.
37
ENDOCARDITIS (Heart Infection)
(say it like “end-o-card-ite-is”)
Lucky goes to the hospital to visit
his friend Rocket. He tells Lucky he
has endocarditis. Rocket has a fever
and is really tired and weak. He’s
wired to heroin and uses every day.
Lucky doesn’t know anything about
endocarditis, but it doesn’t sound
good.
What is it?
• bacteria that attack the heart and
heart valves
• it can kill you
• about 2 out of 100 people who use
injection drugs get endocarditis
Who can get it?
•
•
•
People who inject.
The infection usually happens to someone who already
has a heart defect or problem.
People who have had rheumatic fever.
How do I get it?
•
•
38
It happens when germs in the bloodstream stick to
heart valves or heart tissue.
Some of these bacteria normally live on body parts
like your mouth, guts, urinary tract and skin.
•
It may be caused by sharing rigs and equipment by
injection drug users, or not cleaning the skin.
What does it look like?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
chest pain
fever
feeling weak
night chills
pain in muscles
pain and swelling in
joints
feeling tired
feeling sick
swollen feet
shortness of breath
** You NEED to see a doctor. **
Things that can go wrong!
•
•
•
•
•
fluid on the lungs
stroke
screwed up heart valves
permanent heart damage
sometimes people die
How do you get rid of it?
•
•
•
•
Antibiotics in the hospital
can cure it.
Sometimes you need an operation.
You can die if you don’t get treated.
If you get the right treatment and follow doctor’s
orders, you can get healthy again.
39
(TB) Tuberculosis
Moondog and Snake live next door to each other on the
second floor of the rooming house. Moondog has been
having a hard time sleeping lately because he could hear
Snake coughing all night, through a heating vent that was
between their two rooms. A few days later, Moondog
went over to talk to Snake. When Moondog saw Snake
he noticed that Snake had lost some weight and was
coughing up some brownish, bloody stuff. Snake said
he hadn’t been sleeping well lately because he coughs
all night and has been having night sweats (big-time
sweating during sleep).
Moondog told Snake to go
see a doctor to see what
was up. When Snake went
to the doctor, she said he
should be tested for TB.
What is it?
TB is a bacteria infection
that usually gets in the lungs but may also affect other
parts of the body.
How do you get it?
TB is passed from person to person
through the AIR by coughing,
sneezing, and breathing. If a person
is really sick they can pass on TB
by sharing cigarettes, joints, and
bottles.
40
What does it look like?
•
•
•
•
•
•
sometimes people don’t look sick
a cough (sometimes coughing up
brownish, bloody stuff)
night sweats (extreme sweating
during sleep)
being tired most of the time
not feeling hungry and losing
some weight
THESE COULD ALSO BE
SIGNS OF OTHER THINGS
You should
get tested
for TB if
someone
you know is
positive for
TB.
Who can get it?
•
•
•
•
•
ANYONE can get TB
people who are already sick
people living in crowded places or areas (jails,
institutions, & shelters)
being around someone who has “active” TB
people who have HIV
How do I know if I have it?
•
Go for testing once
a year. The nurse or
doctor will give a small
needle on the inside of
your arm. You have to
go back in 2 or 3 days
for them to check it.
41
•
•
•
•
The test will either be positive (may have TB) or
negative (no TB)
If you have tested positive for TB in the past, you
shouldn’t have a skin test.
a spit test (gucky stuff you hork up from deep in your
chest – which is sent for testing to see if the germ is
there)
a chest x-ray may be needed if a person has a positive
skin test to see if they have TB
•TB may not ever “wake
up” and make you sick
•a person usually
doesn’t get sick for a
while
•someone with TB must
get antibiotics
NOTE: a positive skin
test does not mean that
you have TB but means
that you have come into contact, at sometime, with
someone who had TB
How do you get rid of it?
•
•
a person has to take drugs for
a long time - sometimes for 2-9
months
if you don’t take the medicine the
TB can come back, even stronger
Moondog had to get tested too, but he
was OK.
42
STREP THROAT
Starvin’ Marvin booted his buddies
out of his room so he could crash.
He wasn’t feeling too good. His
throat was really sore and he was
feeling hot. He thought maybe he
was getting a cold.
The next day he woke up and felt
like shit. This was not a cold. He
talked to his buddy next door who said that he’d just got
over strep throat. His buddy said he should go to the
doctor because you need antibiotics to get rid of it.
Marvin went to the health clinic.
The nurse said that they would
need to do a test to see if he had
the bacteria that causes strep
throat. The nurse stuck a big
cotton swab in his throat that
almost made him gag. He left his
buddy’s phone number with the
nurse so she could call to let him
know what the test showed.
The nurse called and told Marvin he definitely had strep
throat and he should come in to get a prescription for
some antibiotics. After about 1 or 2 days, the antibiotics
should start to make you feel better. BUT you should
take all the medication as the doctor orders so you get
rid of the bacteria. Just because you feel better after
a couple days doesn’t mean you’re cured yet. The germs
get stronger if you don’t totally kill them.
43
What is it?
The nurse explained that strep throat is caused by
a bacteria. Strep throat needs to be treated with
antibiotics or it can lead to something called “rheumatic
fever”.
“Rheumatic fever” (say it like ru-ma-tic”) can cause
arthritis (sore,swollen joints) and heart problems. Strep
throat can also lead to kidney
problems (kidneys help your body
get rid of the crap it doesn’t
need). This can cause serious
trouble too.
Strep throat can also lead to
“scarlet fever”. Scarlet fever can
become serious. It’s a rash that
can spread over the whole body.
You need antibiotics to take care of it.
How You Get It
Strep throat is spread by spit. It
can also live on things for a short
while. The nurse told Marvin that
he could do these things to stop
spreading it to others:
•
Wash his hands.
•
Not share any drinks or smokes.
•
Not kiss anyone.
Until the antibiotics start to work,
Marvin can do these things to help
himself feel better:
44
•
•
•
•
•
Gargle with warm salt water
Drink tea with lemon and honey
Drink cold drinks or have a Popsicle™
Take some Tylenol™ if you have a
healthy liver or Aspirin™ if you have
a healthy stomach
Try not to drink orange juice or
other citrus juices because they can
make your throat hurt more
IMPORTANT:
Kids and teens should NOT take Aspirin™ (also called
acetylsalicylic acid). For some reason, some kids or teens
get a very serious disease called Reye (say it like “rye”)
Syndrome if they take aspirin for certain infections.
Reye Syndrome can cause brain damage and even death.
Tylenol™ or things that have acetaminophen are good
to use if you can’t use aspirin. Check the label and make
sure you use stuff that is safe for kids. You can ask the
pharmacist in the drugstore if you aren’t sure.
TM
45
FOOD POISONING
Scarface got his cheque today and
decided to take a few of his friends to
the Easy Lay Inn for a meal. They had
a few drinks while they were waiting
for their food and didn’t notice that
their burgers were still bleeding. A
few hours later
most of them had
rumblings below and went to find
a tree to squat behind. (HINT:
ALWAYS CARRY SOME TISSUE
WITH YOU)! Since Scarface spent
the rest of the day in the bathroom
trying to decide which end should
face the toilet, he decided to see a
doctor.
What is it?
An infection caused by bacteria that grows in food.
How do I get it?
•
•
•
when food is not cooked long enough
when food is not kept in the fridge when it should be
not washing your hands after touching raw food
•
old rotten food
What does it look like?
•
•
•
46
puking (throwing up)
the shits (diarrhea)
stomach pains, cramps
•
•
•
•
•
sick to your stomach
fever
aching bones
usually happens pretty
quickly
most food poisoning usually
lasts from 1 to 3 days.
How to NOT get it!
•
•
•
•
•
cook food so it is well done
and not bloody
refrigerate meat until it’s
time to eat it or cook it
refrigerate mayo, salad dressing, etc. once opened
wash cutlery, pots, pans, sink, countertops, and cutting
boards in hot soapy water during and after cutting up
foods
wash your hands often and in between each food you
make with soap and water
How do you get rid of it?
•most food poisoning does not need
drugs or treatment
•usually gets better by drinking water
and fluids (no alcohol)
** Be CAREFUL about cooking your
food and make sure it is cooked
enough! **
** Try not to eat meat from
dumpsters when you’re hungry. If
you HAVE TO, try and heat it up first. **
47
LICE
Scrappy stopped by Dino’s
place for a few drinks. They
ended up partying all night
and Scrappy woke up the
next morning face down on
the couch. About a week later
Scrappy had a really itchy
head and thought he may have
gotten lice from Dino’s place
because a lot of different
people crash on his couch.
When Scrappy looked closer
he saw white round dots
stuck to the bottom of the hairs, plus things were moving
around on his scalp. The white spots looked like dandruff
but wouldn’t shake out of his head. He decided that he
should stop by the clinic so a nurse or doctor could have
a look at his head and get him some shampoo and stuff to
get rid of the lice.
What is it?
Lice are small bugs that cannot
fly or jump. There are 3 kinds
of lice; 1) body lice, 2) pubic
lice, and 3) hair lice.
How do I get it?
•
•
48
people get lice from sharing clothes and personal
stuff like combs, hats, etc.
coming into contact with a pillow or couch that has
lice.
•
having bodies touching each other
What does it look like?
Body lice – small red spots
on the body (waist, shoulders,
chest, and neck) are most
common and are itchy.
Pubic lice – bluish spots on
the belly, crotch and upper
legs that are itchy.
Head lice – looks like dandruff but doesn’t come out
when you comb your hair and makes your head really
itchy.
** Lice cannot live away from humans for more than 2
days. **
Who can get it?
•
•
•
•
anyone
close contact with someone who
already has lice
people who share clothes, hats,
combs, etc.
people in shelters/institutions/
hostels/jail
You must
pick out all
the nits or
the lice can
come back.
How do you get rid of it?
•
Get someone to check your head
starting at the back and behind
the ears.
49
•
•
•Combing out the hair with a
small toothed comb or
picking out with fingers to
remove the nits (lice eggs)
•You can use a cream
(NIX™) or shampoo
(Kwell™ or Lindane™)
READ THE LABEL TO BE
SURE IT’S SAFE FOR
KIDS. FOLLOW WHAT
IT SAYS ON THE LABEL.
Clothes, bedding, and personal articles should be
washed in really hot water and dried on hot. If it’s
winter you can put your clothes, bedding, or furniture
outside for a few hours which will freeze the lice and
kill them.
FOLLOW LABELS ON SHAMPOO & CREAM
CAREFULLY OR YOU MAY BURN YOUR SCALP OR
LOSE YOUR HAIR! ONLY USE ONCE!
Remember, if you
don’t take care
of the bedding
when you treat
your body, the
lice can come
back.
50
SCABIES
Scarlet crashed with
buddy on the couch. About
a month later her belly
was itchy. In between
her fingers was itchy too.
The itch was driving her
nuts. When she looked
at her belly, she saw a
rash. It looked like little
red bumps. Scarlet was a
little freaked out, so she went to the needle exchange
and asked the nurse about the rash. The nurse looked at
it and asked Scarlet some questions. She said it could
be scabies. What? I’ve got bugs? Holy shit. The nurse
explained that:
•
•
•
•
•
Anyone can get scabies, it doesn’t mean you’re dirty.
Scabies aren’t serious, they’re just annoying.
Scabies are “mites” (bugs) that only live on humans.
They “burrow” (dig) under your skin and lay eggs (this
is why you itch).
You can get scabies by touching bodies (this can mean
sex, hugging, cuddling, etc).
• It takes about 2 – 6
weeks after you get
scabies to notice the
signs ( the itchiness
and rash).
• If you’ve had scabies
before, it only takes 1
– 4 days to notice the
signs if you get it
again.
51
Scarlet asked how to get rid
of them.
•
•
•
•
There are lotions that
have “Permethrin” or
“Lindane” in them that will
kill the scabies (Kwellada®
lotion is popular).
It is really IMPORTANT
to follow the EXACT
directions when you use
this medication. Too much
is NOT good. USE ONLY
ONCE.
Wash your bedding and clothing.
Scabies needs a person to live (it can only live for
about 2 or 3 days without a warm body).
•You may itch for a few days after
the treatment.
•Don’t do another treatment for at
least 7 days. ONLY do another
treatment if there is no
improvement.
Remember, you
must take care
of the bedding or
the scabies will
come back.
52
MEDICATIONS (Drugs)
Doctors will sometimes prescribe drugs (a script) to help
treat an infection.
ANTIBIOTICS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Remember to
check labels.
Some meds are
not safe for
everyone.
Antibiotics kill infections
caused by bacteria (they
don’t work on viruses like the
cold or the flu).
It’s important to take them
the way the doctor says so
they will work. Check the
label (some need to be taken
with food, and some need an empty stomach).
Don’t share your antibiotics with anyone. The germ
may be different and the antibiotic might not work.
Some people can die if they have serious allergies to
antibiotics.
Try not to drink alcohol while you’re on antibiotics.
The antibiotics won’t work.
Use condoms when you’re on antibiotics. Birth control
pills don’t work very well.
You should finish all the pills that are prescribed.
WHY?
You’ll probably feel better after a
couple of days on the antibiotics.
But, only some of the weaker
bacteria have been killed. The
stronger ones are still alive. If you
53
You should see a doctor when:
• You’re not getting better after one week.
• You’re getting sicker instead of better.
• You get a high fever.
• Your cough gets worse instead of better.
• You get sinus pain, an earache, or
toothache.
These are signs that you may need antibiotics
or that something else is going on.
stop taking the antibiotic, you can get sick again. Also,
the bacteria can change and get so strong that the
antibiotics won’t work at all.
Most virus infections just need to run their course (about
1 week). Usually, doctors won’t prescribe antibiotics if
they think it’s a virus. You can go to the drug store and
find some medication to help with the symptoms (like
cough and sinus medicine). Get lots of sleep; drink lots of
water and juice to help with virus infections.
54
OTHER MEDICATIONS
•
TB medications are ordered by the doctor for people
who have TB or who have been around people with TB.
2 or 3 different kinds of medications are taken at the
same time for about 2 to 9 months (see section on TB
for more info).
•
HIV medications are ordered by the doctor for
people who have HIV. 1 to 3 drugs are taken at
different times throughout the day (see section on
HIV for more info).
•
Pain medications are usually ordered by the doctor.
There’s many different kinds of pain medications.
Check the label and follow the doctor’s advice. You
can always ask a pharmacist at a drug store for
information about medications. There are some you
can buy without a prescription. Read the label or ask
for information if you’re not sure about them.
55
CONCLUSION
•
There is a lot of info in this book. If you have any
questions, ask someone who would know the answers
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or agencies in the
community).
•
Always try to find the newest information you can to
keep yourself updated.
56
GLOSSARY
AIDS - when HIV hurts the immune system and you start to
get sick.
BACTERIA - small germs that can be good or bad. Antibiotics
usually help.
BODY FLUIDS - any fluid that is in your body like snot, spit,
cum (women and men), blood, breast milk, pee, puke.
COLDS - viruses that can affect the head and chest. You can
have a runny nose, cough, and sore throat. Lasts about 710 days and goes away on its own.
ENDOCARDITIS - bacteria that attacks the heart. You’re
more likely to get it if you’ve had trouble with your heart in
the past.
FOOD POISONING - bacteria that grows in food and attacks
your guts (intestines).
FLU - virus that makes you sick. You can have body aches and
fever. Lasts about 7-10 days and goes away on its own.
HEPATITIS A - a virus that makes your liver swell. You can
get it if someone has Hep A, doesn’t wash their hands
after taking a dump and then touches food that you eat.
HEPATITIS B - a virus that makes your liver swell. You can
get it if you get someone’s blood OR body fluids into your
body.
HEPATITIS C - a virus that makes your liver swell. You can
get it when you get other people’s blood into your body.
57
HIV - a virus that attacks your immune system and can cause
AIDS.
IMMUNE SYSTEM - a bunch of different cells floating around
inside your body that help fight off terms.
LICE - a small bug that makes you itchy. You can get it on your
body in places you have hair. You need medication to get
rid of it.
MENINGITIS - infection of the brain and spinal cord that is
caused by a bacteria or a virus.
MONO - a virus that you can catch through spit. You can get
a really sore throat, swollen glands and a high fever. There
is no cure, it goes away on its own.
PINK EYE - bacteria or viruses that infect the eyes.
PNEUMONIA - bacteria or virus that affects the lungs and
you NEED to see a doctor. It can be very serious.
SCABIES - a small bug that digs under your skin and makes
you itchy. You need medication to get rid of it.
STREP THROAT - a bacteria that affects your throat. You
NEED antibiotics to cure it.
TUBERCULOSIS (TB) - a bacteria that usually gets in the
lungs but may also affect other parts of the body. NEEDS
medication to get better.
VACCINES (IMMUNIZATIONS) - a shot that helps your
immune system fight off germs. (There aren’t vaccines for
every germ.)
VIRUS - very small germs. Antibiotics don’t work for viruses.
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Natural Helpers 2001
Streetworks, Edmonton, Alberta
Boyle Street Co-op
Health
10116 - 105 Ave
Edmonton AB
T5H 0K2
ph: (780) 424-4106 ext 210
Boyle McCauley
Centre
10628 - 96 Street
Edmonton AB
T5H 2J2