(pictured) The Spanish Springs valley is obscured by a thick blanket of winter fog

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Health
AIDS/HIV Prevention
  1. What is HIV?
  2. What is AIDS?
  3. HIV is NOT transmitted by:
  4. Who is at risk for HIV infection?
  5. Who is eligible for testing at the Washoe County District Health Department?
  6. What are the costs of an HIV test or STD exam at the Health Department?
  7. Where else is HIV testing available in the community?
  8. How can HIV transmission from injection drug use be prevented?
  9. How can sexual transmission of HIV be prevented?
  10. What is the HIV Antibody Test?
  11. What is the "window period"?
  12. Do condoms provide 100% protection from HIV?
  13. What are the symptoms of a new HIV infection?
  14. Is there a cure for HIV and AIDS?
Air Quality
  1. How do I know if an air permit is required from the AQMD for my business?
  2. How do I register an air pollution complaint?
  3. What are the local asbestos regulations for commercial buildings?
  4. When does the Air Pollution Control Hearing Board meet?
  5. Can I have a wood burning stove or fireplace in Washoe County?
Antimicrobial Resistance
  1. What are bacteria?
  2. What is an antibiotic?
  3. How do antibiotics work?
  4. Can antibiotics be harmful?
  5. What is antibiotic resistance?
  6. How do bacteria become resistant?
  7. Do people become resistant to antibiotics?
  8. How do I catch an antibiotic-resistant infection?
  9. Does a cold or the flu need an antibiotic?
  10. Does bronchitis need an antibiotic?
  11. Do most sore throats need an antibiotic?
  12. Do ear infections need antibiotics?
  13. Do sinus infections need an antibiotic?
  14. What can I do to feel better?
  15. Do antibacterial products (such as antibacterial soaps) prevent infections better than ordinary soaps?
  16. Are antibiotic-resistant bacteria a problem?
  17. What can I do?
Birth and Death Records
  1. How do I obtain a birth or death record/certificate?
  2. Who is a qualified applicant?
  3. How much does it cost for a copy of a birth or death record?
  4. Where can I go to obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate?
  5. What are your hours?
  6. How do I add the name of my child’s legal father to his or her birth certificate?
Condoms and Foam
  1. What are Condoms and Foam?
  2. How well do Condoms and Foam work?
  3. When does fertility return?
  4. Can condoms and foam be used by nursing mothers?
  5. What do some people like about using Condoms and Foam?
  6. What do some people dislike about using them?
  7. How to use Condoms?
  8. How to use Foam?
Depo-Provera
  1. What is Depo-Provera?
  2. How is it used?
  3. When is the shot first given?
  4. How soon does it work?
  5. How does it work?
  6. How effective is it?
  7. When does fertility return?
  8. Can it be used by nursing mothers?
  9. What are the benefits of using Depo?
  10. What are possible side effects?
  11. What are the risks?
  12. Who cannot use Depo-Provera/DMPA?
E. coli
  1. What is E. coli O157:H7?
  2. How does a person get E. coli?
  3. What are the symptoms of E. coli?
  4. How sick can I get?
  5. When should I see a doctor?
  6. How long will it take for me to get well?
Emergency Contraception Pill
  1. What is ECP (Emergency Contraception Pill)?
  2. How is it used?
  3. How does it work?
  4. How effective is it?
  5. Does it affect fertility?
  6. Can nursing mothers use it?
  7. If the ECPs don’t work and I become pregnant, will it hurt the fetus?
  8. If I`m already pregnant will ECPs affect the pregnancy?
  9. What are possible side effects?
  10. Who cannot use ECPs?
Environmental Health
  1. Do I still need a permit if I`m giving away food?
  2. Where do I make a complaint if I become sick from eating food at an event or restaurant?
  3. Do I need a permit to drill or recondition an existing well?
Family Planning Clinic
  1. What Does Family Planning Clinic mean?
  2. Where is the Clinic located?
  3. I`m pregnant and thinking about adoption, where can I go to find out more information?
  4. I am pregnant so where do I go to get checked (prenatal care)?
  5. What hours are you open?
  6. What is the phone number?
  7. What are the average costs?
  8. Do you accept insurance?
  9. What do I need to bring to my visit?
  10. When do I pay for the visit?
  11. How do I pay for my visit?
  12. Are there male or female nurses in the clinic?
  13. Do you have staff that speak Spanish?
  14. Is there a bus stop near by?
  15. Is the appointment confidential?
  16. What ages of women do you see in your clinic?
  17. How long does it take to get an appointment?
  18. What is a Pap smear?
  19. I just had sex and didn`t use protection. I don`t want to get pregnant. What can I do?
  20. I`ve been sexually assaulted and I am afraid to tell the police. What do I do?
  21. Where can I find abortion services in the Reno/Sparks area?
Flu
  1. How can I protect myself from getting the flu?
  2. What does being at "high risk" mean?
  3. How do I know if I`m in a high-risk group?
  4. When and where can I get a flu shot or FluMist?
  5. How much does a flu shot or FluMist cost?
  6. Will my insurance pay for my flu shot or FluMist?
  7. What else will help people avoid getting the flu?
  8. What are symptoms of the flu?
  9. I never get sick, so why should I get a vaccinated for the flu?
  10. I`ve gotten flu shots before, and then I got sick with the flu, so I don`t want to get a flu shot again.
  11. Who should not get vaccinated against flu?
  12. What is the Northern Nevada Immunization Coalition?
  13. Is there a shortage of seasonal flu vaccine this year (2006-2007) as there has been in past years?
  14. How late in the season can I get a seasonal flu shot for it to still be effective?
  15. What`s new this year (2006-2007) from last year (2005-2006)?
  16. Will getting a seasonal flu shot protect me from "bird flu" or "pandemic influenza"?
Food Services
  1. Are there any permit exemptions?
  2. Can I prepare food for a Special Event at home?
  3. Do I still need a permit if I`m giving away food?
  4. Is there a fee exemption for veterans as in California?
  5. Is there a reduced fee for non-profits?
  6. Is there an annual permit to cover a full season for temporary foods?
  7. If I already have a permit for my restaurant or mobile food do I need a temporary food permit?
  8. How far ahead of time must I purchase a Temporary Food Permit?
  9. If I turn in an application and pay the fee, have I been approved?
  10. Can I prepare the food for a Special Event ahead of time at an approved facility?
H1N1 Vaccine
  1. How much will it cost to get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 flu?
  2. Is the novel H1N1 flu vaccine safe?
  3. How long does it take for the novel H1N1 flu vaccine to become effective?
  4. Can I get the flu from being vaccinated?
  5. Why should I get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 flu? I thought the pandemic was over!!!
  6. If I get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 flu, do I also need to be vaccinated against seasonal flu?
  7. Where can I get more information?
  8. When will additional novel H1N1 flu vaccination clinics be scheduled?
  9. When will novel H1N1 flu vaccination clinics be available for the general public?
  10. Who needs to get a second dose of the novel H1N1 flu vaccine?
Minipill
  1. What is the Minipill?
  2. How is it used?
  3. How is it started?
  4. How soon does it work?
  5. How does it work?
  6. How effective is it?
  7. When does fertility return?
  8. Can it be used by nursing mothers?
  9. What do I do if I miss a pill?
  10. What are the benefits of using the Minipill?
  11. What are the possible side effects?
  12. What are the risks?
  13. Who should not use the Minipill?
Mirena
  1. What is the Mirena?
  2. How is Mirena inserted?
  3. How does it work?
  4. How soon does it work?
  5. How effective is it?
  6. Will Mirena affect my period?
  7. When does fertility return?
  8. Can it be used by nursing mothers?
  9. What are the benefits of using the Mirena?
  10. What are possible side effects?
  11. What are the risks?
  12. Who cannot use Mirena?
Natural Family Planning
  1. What are Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM)?
  2. How does (FAM) work?
  3. How effective is it?
  4. What are the benefits of using FAM?
  5. What are possible disadvantages?
ParaGard
  1. What is the ParaGard?
  2. How is ParaGard inserted?
  3. How does it work?
  4. How soon does it work?
  5. How effective is it?
  6. Will ParaGard affect my period?
  7. When does fertility return?
  8. Can it be used by nursing mothers?
  9. What are the benefits of using the ParaGard?
  10. What are possible side effects?
  11. What are the risks?
  12. Who cannot use ParaGard?
PDF Files
  1. How do I read PDF files?
Public Health Nurse Home Visitation Program
  1. Public Health Nurse Home Visitation Program
    Do I qualify for services?
  2. Who should I contact for more information regarding the Public Health Nurse Home Visitation Program?
  3. What will services cost me?
  4. What is the cost to the client?
  5. Who can I refer for services?
  6. How do I make a referral?
Salmonellosis
  1. What is Salmonellosis?
  2. How common is Salmonellosis?
  3. Is Salmonellosis required to be reported to health authorities?
  4. What are the symptoms of Salmonellosis?
  5. How is Salmonellosis transmitted?
  6. What is the incubation period (the time from exposure to Salmonellosis until the time symptoms occur)?
  7. How long does an infected person stay ill?
  8. How long does the bacteria survive in the environment?
  9. How is Salmonellosis diagnosed?
  10. How long does it take for test results to be available?
  11. How sick can an infected person get?
  12. How is Salmonellosis treated?
  13. What are steps for avoiding disease transmission/getting the disease?
  14. Where can I get more information?
Smoking Ban
  1. Why was the smoking ban passed?
  2. When did the smoking ban go into effect?
  3. What changes does the smoking ban make?
  4. How do I comply with the law if I am a bar?
  5. How do I comply with the law if I am a childcare facility?
  6. How do I comply with the law if I am an employer?
  7. How do I comply with the law if I am a restaurant?
  8. Where can I get a printable no smoking sign?
  9. Whom do I contact to complain about smoking violations?
  10. How will the ban be enforced?
  11. What are the penalties?
  12. What if I have more questions about the ban?
  13. Where can I get more information on quitting smoking?
  14. What is happening with the court cases against the smoking ban?
  15. How will the ban improve the health of Washoe County?
  16. How have smoking bans in other communities affected business owners?
  17. What will it cost business owners to comply with the new law?
  18. What do I do if someone is smoking indoors in a facility where smoking is now illegal?
  19. Where can I get more information about tobacco and secondhand smoke?
  20. I smoke, so how does the smoking ban apply to me?
  21. Why is the Health Department involved in the smoking ban?
  22. If the law refers to "public places," then why is smoking banned in businesses that are privately owned?
  23. What is "smoking-related paraphernalia"?
  24. Are businesses in Washoe County complying with the smoking ban?
  25. Can a business allow smoking during certain times of the day?
  26. Four ways to ask smokers to "take it outside":
STD
  1. What is the address of the clinic?
  2. What are STDs?
  3. Consequences of STDs.
  4. Interesting facts about STDs.
  5. What is HIV?
  6. What is AIDS?
  7. How is HIV transmitted?
  8. HIV is not transmitted by..?
  9. Who is at risk for HIV infection?
  10. Who is eligible for testing at the Washoe County District Health Department?
  11. What are the costs of an HIV test or STD exam at the Health Department?
  12. Where else is HIV testing available in the community?
  13. How can HIV transmission from injection drug use be prevented?
  14. How can sexual transmission of HIV be prevented?
  15. What is the HIV Antibody Test?
  16. What is the "window period"?
  17. Do condoms provide 100% protection from HIV?
  18. What are the symptoms of a new HIV infection?
  19. Is there a cure for HIV and AIDS?
Teen Health Mall
  1. What does it mean to receive family planning services?
  2. Where is the Clinic located?
  3. What hours are you open?
  4. What is the phone number?
  5. What are the average costs?
  6. What will happen at my first visit?
  7. Do you accept insurance?
  8. What do I need to bring to my first visit?
  9. When do I pay for the visit?
  10. Are there male or female nurses in the clinic?
  11. Do you have staff that speak Spanish?
  12. Is there a bus stop near by?
  13. Is the appointment confidential?
  14. I am pregnant so where do I go to get checked (prenatal care)?
  15. How long does it take to get an appointment?
  16. What is a Pap smear?
  17. I just had sex and didn`t use protection. I don`t want to get pregnant. What can I do?
  18. I`ve been sexually assaulted and I am afraid to tell the police. What do I do?
  19. Where can I find abortion services in the Reno/Sparks area?
  20. I`m pregnant and thinking about adoption, where can I go to find out more information?
The Pill
  1. What is the Pill?
  2. How is it used?
  3. How is it started?
  4. How soon does it work?
  5. How does it work?
  6. How effective is it?
  7. When does fertility return?
  8. Can it be used by nursing mothers?
  9. What do I do if I miss a pill?
  10. What are the benefits of using the Pill?
  11. What are possible side effects?
  12. What are the risks?
  13. What medication can make the Pill less effective?
  14. Who cannot use the Pill?
Tuberculosis (TB)
  1. Where can I get a TB test? (Skin test or Blood test)
  2. There`s a blood test for TB?
  3. What if my TB test is positive?
  4. What if I had BCG vaccination for TB?
  5. What is TB?
  6. What are the symptoms of TB disease?
  7. How is TB spread?
  8. What is the difference between latent TB infection and TB disease?
  9. How is latent TB infection treated?
  10. How is TB disease treated?
  11. What is directly observed therapy (DOT)?
  12. Who is most likely to get TB?
  13. Where can I learn more about TB?
Vasectomy
  1. What is a vasectomy?
  2. Can a vasectomy be reversed if I change my mind afterwards?
  3. Are there other ways to prevent pregnancy besides a vasectomy?
  4. How do they do a vasectomy?
  5. What are the benefits of a vasectomy?
  6. What are the risks?
  7. Will I still be able to have sex?
Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Disposal
  1. How do I get my recyclables picked up at the curbside in my neighborhood?
  2. Can I recycle yard clippings and other "green wastes"?
  3. How do I get rid of old paint?
  4. How can I dispose of household products containing hazardous materials or chemicals?
  5. How do I dispose of old computers?
  6. Where can I dispose of used motor oil?
  7. How can I start a waste reduction, recycling and a buy-recycled program in my work place?
  8. I want to use environmentally friendly products in my home and garden and ensure that they are disposed of safety. Where can I get more information?

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