sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually Transmitted Disease

The number of reported cases of sexually transmitted disease (STD) are on the rise in the United States. Viral STDs are treatable, but not curable. STDs caused by bacterium are curable with antibiotics. There is no current cure for AIDS, and eventually death occurs in most cases. STDs such as Chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital warts are highly contagious. Many can be spread through only one sexual contact. The only sure way of preventing STDs and AIDS is through sexual abstinence or a relationship exclusively between two uninfected people. Increasing your number of partners increases the chances that you will contract a STD.
The correct and consistent use of a latex condom and avoidance of unsafe sexual behaviors can diminish the risk of becoming infected with an STD or AIDS, although condoms do not completely eliminate the risk. Oral-genital sex is also a possible means of transmission of HIV, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis and other STDs.
If you think you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), see a physician immediately. If a STD is diagnosed, it is important that you share the information of a confirmed STD with your sexual partner(s). In all cases of STD, abstain from sexual contact until the infection is eliminated.

STD testing is available through the student Wellness Center.

Chlamydia Infection

Signs and symptoms:
Painful urination
Vaginal discharge in women
Urethral discharge in men
Infection may have no symptoms

About the Disease:
Can cause scarring of fallopian tubes in women and prostatitis or epididymitis in men.

How serious is it?
Touching your eye with infectious secretions can cause eye infection. A mother can pass the infection to her child during delivery, causing pneumonia or eye infection.

Medical Treatment:
Antibiotics are prescribed. The infection should disappear within 1 to 2 weeks. All sexual partners must be treated, even thought they may not have symptoms. Otherwise, they will pass the disease back and forth between them.

Genital Herpes

Signs and symptoms:
Pain or itching in the genital area
Water blisters or open sores
Genital sores may be present but invisible inside the vagina(women) or urethra (men)
Recurrent outbreaks

About the disease
Caused by the herpes simplex virus, usually type 2. Symptoms begin 2 to 7 days after exposure. Itching or burning is followed by blisters and sores. They erupt in the vagina or on the labia, buttocks, anus, penis, scrotum or thighs.

How serious is it?
There is no cure or vaccine. The disease is very contagious whenever sores are present. Newborn infants can become infected as they pass through the birth canal of mothers with open sores.

Medical Treatment:
Self-care consists of keeping sores clean and dry. Prescription antiviral drugs can help speed healing. If recurrences are frequent, antiviral medication can be taken daily to suppress the virus.

Genital warts

Signs and symptoms:
Warty growths on the genitals, anus, groin, or urethra

About the disease:
Venereal warts or genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They affect both men and women. Persons with impaired immune systems and pregnant women are more susceptible.

How serious is is?
Can be serious and is very contagious. Women with a history of genital warts have a higher risk of cervical cancer and should get yearly Pap smear.

Medical Treatment:
Warts are removed with medication, cryosurgery (freezing), lasers or electrical current. These procedures may require local or general anesthesia.

Gonorrhea

Signs and symptoms:
Thick, pus-like discharge from urethra
Burning, frequent urination
Slight increase in vaginal discharge in women
Anal discharge or irritation
Occasional fever and abdominal pain

About the disease:
Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria. In men, first symptoms appear 2 days - 2 weeks after exposure. In women, symptoms may not appear for 1 - 3 weeks. Infection usually affects the cervix and sometimes fallopian tubes.

How serious is it?
Gonorrhea is highly contagious, and acute infection may become chronic. In men, it may lead to epididymitis. In women it can spread to the fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease. May result in scarring of the tubes and infertility. Rarely, it causes joint or throat infection.

Medical Treatment:
Many antibiotics are safe and effective for treating gonorrhea. Although treatable, gonorrhea is becoming resistant to some antibiotics. It may be cured with a single injection of ceftriaxone. Oral antibiotics also are affective.

Hepatitis B

Signs and symptoms:
Skin and eyes are yellowish
Urine is tea-colored
Flu-like illness
Fatigue and achiness
Fever

About the disease:
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus. Some carriers never have symptoms but are capable of passing the virus to others.

How serious is it?
A pregnant woman may pass the virus to her developing fetus. Rarely causes liver failure and death.

Medical Treatment:
No antiviral treatment. Bed rest is not essential, although it may help you feel better. Maintain good nutrition. Abstain from alcohol use because of damage to the liver. Preventable by vaccination.

Syphilis

Signs and symptoms:
Painless sores on the genitals, rectum, tongue or lips
Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin
Rash over any area of the body, especially on palms and soles
Fever
Headache
Soreness and aching in bones or joints

About the disease:
Syphilis is a complex disease caused by a bacterium. Primary stage, painless sores appear in the genital area, rectum or mouth 10 days to 6 months later; red rash may appear anywhere on skin. Third stage, often after years-long latent period; heart disease, mental deterioration.

How serious is it?
It can be completely cured if the diagnosis is made early and the infection is treated. Left untreated, the disease can lead to death. In pregnant women, it can be transmitted to the fetus, causing deformities and death.

Medical Treatment:
Usually treated with penicillin. Other antibiotics can be used for patients allergic to penicillin. A person usually can no longer transmit syphilis 24 hours after beginning therapy. some people do not respond to the usually doses of penicillin. They must get periodic blood tests to make sure the infectious agent has been destroyed.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

Signs and symptoms:
Persistent, unexplained fatigue
Soaking night sweats
Shaking chills or fever higher than 100F for several weeks
Swelling of lymph nodes for more than 3 months
Chronic diarrhea
Persistent headaches
Dry cough and shortness of breath

About the disease:
AIDS is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Unfortunately, an HIV test is not accurate immediately after exposure, because it takes time for your body to develop or make antibodies. It can take up to 6 months to detect this antibody response.

How serious is it?
HIV weakens the immune system to the point that opportunistic diseases (ones that you body would normally fight off) begin to affect you. AIDS is a fatal illness, although there have been significant recent advances in the treatment of AIDS.

Medical Treatment:
There is no vaccine for AIDS. Treatment includes use of antiviral drugs, immune system boosters and medications to help prevent or treat opportunistic infections. A new class of drugs, called protease inhibitors, has shown promise.