Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Introduction
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or venereal diseases (VD) are potentially fatal diseases which are transferred from one human to another through sexual contact. STDs are although curable in most cases but can prove to be fatal to the human health if remain untreated for long. They also possess some mysterious attributes for instance empirical evidence has shown that STDs do not show their usual symptoms in some cases and can result in spreading of the infection from one individual to the other. Other sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted through blood transfusions or from mother to child via breast feeding or child birth. (Avert.org. n.d)
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections are usually caused by employing particular sexual practices for instance anal-oral sex. It has various types which have been discussed below
Syphilis
Syphilis is caused by a cockshrew -shaped bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is transmitted sexually or congenitally from an infected mother and genetically transferred to the child. This type of syphilis which is transmitted congenitally is called as congenital syphilis. In the first stage of the disease known as primary syphilis, a lump or ulcer called as a chancre appears on male or female genitalia often after 1week to 3months of infection. After about 6weeks the ulcer usually heals without any treatment but by this time the bacteria enters the body and may cause infection in an organ or body tissue. Symptoms may include a skin rash, high temperature or swollen lymph nodes. Because the symptoms are inconsistent, the infected individual may appear to be in good health for many years even after being infected (Klausner, 2007).
In the secondary stage of the disease, pink non- itchy rashes start to appear on skin of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Symmetrical rashes also appear on trunks and extremities and the patient at this stage of secondary syphilis is considered to be most contagious. Joint pains and fever are the most common symptoms of secondary stage but they usually disappear within three to twelve weeks of infection. This is followed by the latent period which is solely diagnosed through a blood test, probably because usually there are no signs and symptoms detected in this period. It is a stage of latent syphilis which is further divided into early and late. At this stage the immune system may kill the bacteria or the disease may enter into its third stage called as tertiary syphilis (Woods, 2003).
Tertiary syphilis is characterized by gummas, destructive lesions of the central nervous system, blood vessels, bones and skin. They may be called as granulomas which are soft tumor-like balls of chronic inflammation. If this stage is left untreated, it can result into cardiovascular syphilis, gumma formation or neurosyphilis. It can also lead to paralysis, insanity and heart failure. Neurosyphilis is the infection of central nervous system which can be seen at any stage of syphilis and is mostly reported in HIV patients. Neurosyphilis has four clinical types namely asymptomatic neurosyphilis, general paresis, meningovascular syphilis and tabes dorsalis (Gerdes, 2002).
The diagnosis of syphilis is done by three methods which are recognizing the signs and symptoms, identifying the bacteria through microscopic techniques and last but not least, blood tests. These syphilis screening tests are Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) tests. Although they are economical and rapid but they can give false positive results as they are not completely specific. Because the blood test can provide us with the false negative and false positive results up to three months after infection, there is a need to do repeated tests to confirm the diagnosis. Thus confirmatory tests are done such as Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody- Absorption Test (FTA-ABS) and T.pallidum (Gerdes, 2002)
Hemagglutination Assay (TPHA). These are the tests which determine the antibodies of syphilis. However, these antibodies do not provide help in diagnosing a new case of syphilis in patients who had syphilis previously because once the antibody formed in body, remain for years. In these kinds of patients a lumbar puncture is done to check the infection of the nervous system. (Ryan C, Futterman D, 1998)
Treatment of this infection involves the use of antibiotics such as Penicillin G but if the patient shows allergic response to penicillin then the recommended antibiotics are Doxycyclin or Tetracycline. Azithromycin was previously used to treat syphilis. In order to effectively prevent syphilis, one should avoid sexual intercourse and the use of condoms should be done properly. Every patient of syphilis must be tested for HIV and awareness among the layman about this disease plays an important in its prevention (Peeling, 1999).
Gonorrhea
The causative agent for gonorrhea is a bacterium named as Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is the second most common prevailing disease among STDs in United States. The infection can be transferred from one person to the other through sexual intercourse whereas women are more susceptible to this disease. A mother may transmit gonorrhea to her infant during childbirth. For women the signs and symptoms of this infection occur up to three weeks of acquiring it and they are such as itching of cervix and vagina along with thick yellowgreen discharge. It may also cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) which can then lead to sterility. There is an urge to urinate often and bleeding occurs between menstrual periods. In men there is inflammation or infection of prostrate or a duct in the testicles. Also there is burning along urination and thick yellow penile discharge seen in most men. Other symptoms are sore throat and rectal pain. The mother may pass on gonorrhea to her child and this condition is called as Opthalmia neonatorum. Diagnostic tests include examining the sample of discharge under microscope and counting of white blood cells in the body. If they are seen to be in elevated levels along with, this is the indication of the infection(Gerdes, 2002).
There are many antibiotics which can be used to treat gonorrhea such as Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Fluoroquinolones, Macrolides and Tetracyclines. Since Fluoroquinolones cause fetal abnormalities, they cannot be given to a gonorrhea infected mother. The bacteria causing gonorrhea has shown high levels of resistance to the tetracycline and thus is becoming in-effective in many countries. The prevention is same as in the case of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (Nester, 2001).
Chlamydia
It is one of the most occurring diseases of STD which is not easily detectable as symptoms are not always visible and therefore is referred to as Silent Epidemic. Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms are mostly seen in one to three weeks of infection which are abnormal vaginal discharge having odor, pain when urinating, having sex or during periods in women. In men, painful urination, burning or itching near the testicles or at the tip of the penis and clear or cloudy discharge from penis. One of the causes of blindness is Chlamydia conjunctivitis. The diagnosis for Chlamydia is done by taking samples of urine or from the urethra of male or from the cervix of female. The treatment for Chlamydia includes Doxycyclin or Azithromycin. ( Vickerman , Watts , Alary , Mabey , Peeling , 2003)
Chancroid
Chancroid is caused by Gram-negative bacterium, Haemophilus ducreyi. Possible symptoms include genital ulcers, painful urination and open genital sores, swollen groin lymph nodes, rectal bleeding and vaginal discharge. Treatment involves an oral dose of Azithromycin daily for seven days ( Gerdes , 2002).
Fungal infections
Fungal STDs are quite contagious unlike bacterial infections which usually transmit from one person to another through sex. Fungal infections can be transmitted from an infected person to another through a simple touch. Though treatments are available for their cure but it is much prevention is much better (Gerdes, 2002). There are different types of fungal infections and have been discussed below
Tinea Curtis
It is the most common form of fungal STIs and are also known as crotch itch or crotch rot. The most common symptoms witnessed with Tinea Curtis is that an infected individual complains of increasing itching, burning sensation particularly in his or her groin area. Such issues might be experienced in inner thighs and genital areas as well. As the infections grows red rashes start to develop in the groin area which lead to reddish brown rashes along with pimples in the inner thighs (Woods, 2003).
This infection is usually caused to other parts of the body which may have contracted with other fungus infections (which need to be transmitted sexually) for instance athletes foot. Further more such infections are aggravated if it is exposed to a damp environment which might be caused through the use of tight clothing which causes more sweating than usual(Peeling, 1999).
Prevention methods comprise of keeping the groin area clean and mostly dry in order to prevent the aggravation of the infection (in case contracted). Treatment methods are relatively simple for tinea curtis which involve the usage of anti-fungal drugs. These drugs are used topically and some conventionally used antifungal drugs are tolnafate, econazole nitrate, naftifine etc ( MacKellar , Valleroy , Karon , Lemp ,Janssen,1996)
Candidiasis
Candidiasis (mycosis) also known as yeast infections includes a wide range of generic forms of fungal STDs for instance superficial, vaginitis and other potentially fatal diseases. There are numerous sub-types of candidiasis for instance oral candidiasis or thrush, candidal interttrigo and perleche are some of the most common types(Peeling, 1999).
Some of the most common symptoms are vaginal irritation and genital irritation. Empirical evidence has shown that this candidiasis has been reported among children as a mouth infection and possible symptoms have white patches around the mouth (Woods, 2003).
Candida is itself present in humans, however their growth is controlled through the human immune system along with other micro-organisms. Therefore a weak immune system gives rise to various illnesses such as diabetes which increase the chances of candidiasis among such individuals. Apart from that, particular sexual practices also play a crucial role in the occurrence of this infection for instance anal sex (Remedies for Natural health, n.d.).
Diagnosis of candidiasis and its various types is done through microscopic examination of piece of the affected area. Another method would be that of culturing. (Mabey Peeling, 2002)
Since candida part of the human biology therefore treating them with antibiotics eliminate the natural attributes of candida which are essential for humans and in fact the severity of the infection.Hence clinically it has been determined that candidiasis should be treated with antimycotics. Antimycotics are conventional antifungal drugs (Gerdes, 2002).
Viral infections
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS is a disease related with the human immue system caused by the HIV infection. AIDS is one of the most widely spread diseases around the globe. The most prominent symptom of HIVAIDS is the weakening of the human immune system such that it becomes vulnerable to external infections, tumors etc. (Kennamer , Honnold , Bradford Hendricks , 2000)
There are multiple causes behind the occurrence of AIDS in an individual for instance direct contact of the mucous with blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk etc. Transmission of AIDS between two individuals might be caused through conventional sexual practices, blood transfusion, usage of contaminated needles etc (Woods, 2003).
Since AIDS is mostly caused through sexual contact the use of condoms is suggested. Similarly extreme care should when performing blood transfusion and it should be ensured that contaminated blood is avoided at all costs (Woods, 2003).
Even with numerous medical breakthroughs over the years, there is no conclusive treatment of HIVAIDS and hence prevention seems to be the only treatment(Nester,2001).
Viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis is another type of viral STD which has come to be known as GB virus C. The reason viral hepatitis has been differentiated from the usual types of hepatitis infections is the fact that it doesnt result in hepatitis technically (Woods, 2003).
Viral hepatitis is caused by blood and sexual contact.
Conclusion
Sexually transmitted diseases and their different forms shave multiplied over the years. Research therefore continues in discovering better treatment which can successfully cure (Peeling, 1999).
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