Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that you can get from having sex with someone who has the infection. The causes of STDs are bacteria, parasites and viruses. There are more than 20 types of STDs. In the developing world, STDs are an even greater public health problem as the second leading cause of healthy life lost among women between 15 and 44 years of age¹.

1. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Cause: By Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through contact with infected person's body fluid e.g. during sexual intercourse, blood transfusion.

AIDS

Symptoms: Opportunistic infections : body immune system becomes weakened and cannot defend itself. Person usually die from infections rather than HIV itself.

Control / Treatment:  No treatment available. (Control by preventing causes e.g. use of condom, Avoid contact with infected persons, test blood before transfusions)

2. Genital Herpes

Genital Herpes

Cause: virus spread during sexual intercourse (Type 2) .Type 1 can be transmitted by kissing, or sharing contaminated utensils. It can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth. Genital ulcer diseases facilitate enhanced HIV transmission¹.

Symtoms: Small painful blisters on genitals and surrounding areas (T2), or sores around lips and mouth (T1)

Control/ Treatment: No cure for genital herpes. Once infected, person is infected for life.

3. Syphilis

Cause: By bacterium transmitted during sexual intercourse

Symptoms: After an incubation period of 2 to 6 weeks following exposure, a papule develops at the site of inoculation, which will then ulcerate into the characteristic syphilitic chancre. It affects the genitals, anus, lips, tongue, tonsils, or eyelids, which develops painless sores. More severe symptoms: weight loss, hair loss, nausea, headaches. It may also spread and affects all organs of body including the CNS (at this stage, insanity, blindness, heart and kidney disease and eventual death occurs).

Control/ Treatment: Antibiotics such as penicillin.

4.Gonorrhea

Cause: by bacterium transmitted during sexual contact. Can also pass on from mother to child during chilbirth.

Gonorrhea

Symptoms: Infected men have yellow discharge from penis, as well as burning sensation during urination. Infected women also have yellow discharge. Can spread to other parts of body, and both men and women can become sterile and have their sex organs severely damaged.

Treatment: Antibiotics.

5. Human papillomavirus (HPV): is the most common viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. The prevalence ranges from 20% to 46% in young women worldwide².

 

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Symptoms: It causes warts on: external genital, cervical, vaginal, urethral and anal warts as well as conjunctival, nasal, oral and laryngeal warts. HPV can lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, and anus in women. In men, it can lead to cancers of the anus and penis².

Control: Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading HPV. Vaccines can protect against several types of HPV, including some that can cause cancer².

References

1. Microbiology and Immunology On-line

2. National Institutes of Health