STIs, STDs, HIV and AIDS

STIs, STDs, HIV and AIDS

STIs and STDs

STI stands for sexual transmitted infection. These are the infections that can pass from one person to another through sexual contacts. Example Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, candidiasis and human papilloma virus(causes cervical cancer).

STD stands for sexual transmitted disease. The STIs that develop into a disease are called STDs, so they have common occurrence. The distinction is that an STI doesn’t always mean you have an STD, example most female may contracts HPV(Human papilloma virus)  but they would not develop into cervical cancer.

STIs often asymptomatic

STIs often have no signs or symptoms (asymptomatic). Even with no symptoms, however, you can pass the infection to your sex partners. So it's important to use protection, such as a condom, during sex.

 

1.Chlamydia symptoms

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. Chlamydia may be difficult to detect because early-stage infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they usually start one to three weeks after you've been exposed to chlamydia. Even when signs and symptoms occur, they're often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.

It is transmitted through sexual intercourse or infected mother to her baby during birth.

Signs and symptoms may include:

·         Painful urination

·         Lower abdominal pain

·         Vaginal discharge in women

·         Discharge from the penis in men

·         Pain during sexual intercourse in women

·         Bleeding between periods in women

·         Testicular pain in men

Treatments/control

·         Abstain from sex

·         Avoid sexual contacts with infected people

·         Medical treatment for both partners even if one does not show symptoms. The infection is easily treated with antibiotics, but can lead to serious long-term health problems if left untreated, including infertility. 

 

2.Trichomoniasis symptoms

Trichomoniasis is a common STI caused by a microscopic, one-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This organism spreads during sexual intercourse with someone who already has the infection.

The organism usually infects the urinary tract in men, but often causes no symptoms. Trichomoniasis typically infects the vagina in women. When trichomoniasis causes symptoms, they may appear within five to 28 days of exposure and range from mild irritation to severe inflammation.

Signs and symptoms may include:

·         Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge

·         Discharge from the penis

·         Strong vaginal odor

·         Vaginal itching or irritation

·         Itching or irritation inside the penis

·         Pain during sexual intercourse

·         Painful urination

Treatment/control

·         Abstain from sex

·         Avoid sexual contact with infected person

·         Do not share personal items such as towels, underwear, and swimsuits

·         Medical treatments.

3.Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is the same virus that causes cold sores.

Some people develop symptoms of HSV a few days after coming into contact with the virus. Small, painful blisters or sores usually develop, which may cause itching or tingling, or make it painful to urinate.
After you've been infected, the virus remains dormant (inactive) most of the time. However, certain triggers can reactivate the virus, causing the blisters to develop again, although they're usually smaller and less painful.
It's easier to test for HSV if you have symptoms. Although there's no cure for genital herpes, the symptoms can usually be controlled using antiviral medicines.

4.Genital warts

Genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around your genital or anal area. They're caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and are the second most common STI in England after chlamydia.

The warts are usually painless, but you may notice some itching or redness. Occasionally, they can cause bleeding.
You don't need to have penetrative sex to pass the infection on because HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact.
Several treatments are available for genital warts, including creams and freezing the warts (cryotherapy).

5.Gonorrhea symptoms

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. It can also grow in your mouth, throat, eyes and anus. The first gonorrhea symptoms generally appear within 10 days after exposure. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur. It is transmitted from one person to another through the following ways;

·         Sexual intercourse

·         Sharing personal items such as towels, underwear and swimsuits.

·         From an infected mother to her baby during birth.

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea may include:

·         Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina

·         Pain or burning sensation when urinating

·         Heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods

·         Painful, swollen testicles

·         Painful bowel movements

·         Anal itching

Effects

·         Infertility

·         Swollen and painful joints

Prevention/control

·         Abstain from sex

·         Avoid sexual contact with infected person

·         Do not share personal items such as towels, underwear, and swimsuits

·         Medical treatments.

6.Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that in the early stages causes a painless, but highly infectious, sore on your genitals or around the mouth. The sore can last up to six weeks before disappearing.

Secondary symptoms such as a rash, flu-like illness or patchy hair loss may then develop. These may disappear within a few weeks, after which you'll have a symptom-free phase.
The late or tertiary stage of syphilis usually occurs after many years, and can cause serious conditions such as heart problems, paralysis and blindness.
The symptoms of syphilis can be difficult to recognise. A simple blood test can usually be used to diagnose syphilis at any stage. The condition can be treated with antibiotics, usually penicillin injections. When syphilis is treated properly, the later stages can be prevented.
Effects

·         Damage to bones, teeth, skin, digestive system, eyes and nervous system.

·         Mental intability

·         Blindness

·         Stillborn babies

·         Hearing diseases

·         death

Prevention/control

·         Abstain from sex

·         Avoid sexual contacts with infected people

·         Medical treatment for both partners even if one does not show symptoms.

7.Candidiasis/vaginal yeast infection

The vaginal yeast infections, also known as candidiasis, are a common female condition. Yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida.

The Candida genus of yeast is a naturally occurring microorganism in the vaginal area. Its growth is kept in check by the lactobacillus bacteria. However, these bacteria can’t work effectively if there is an imbalance in your system. This leads to an overgrowth of yeast, which causes the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections to be present.
Most yeast infections are caused by Candida albicans — a specific strand of yeast. These yeast infections are easily treatable. The imbalance that allows the overgrowth of yeast to happen can be due to:

• antibiotics (they lower the amount of lactobacillus, or good bacteria, in the vagina)
• pregnancy
• uncontrolled diabetes
• weak immune system
• poor eating habits, including a lot of sugary foods
• hormonal imbalance near your menstrual cycle
• stress
• lack of sleep

The Symptoms of a Vaginal Yeast Infection

Vaginal yeast infections have a common set of symptoms. Usually the length of time your yeast infection is left untreated can have a direct impact on how severe your symptoms are.

Frequent symptoms include:

·         itching

·         burning

·         large or small amounts of vaginal discharge, often whitish gray and thick (although there are also times the discharge can be watery)

·  pain during sex

·  sorenessrash

Effects

·         infection of the bloodstream

·         infertility

Prevention/control

·         Abstain from sex

·         Avoid sexual contact with infected person

·         Do not share personal items such as towels, underwear, and swimsuits

·         Medical treatments. A one- to three-day regimen of an antifungal cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository. Common antifungal medications are Gynazle, Lotrimin, Monistat, and Terazol. These medications can be in prescription or over-the-counter form.

8.Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Most adults who get it have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis B.

Sometimes the virus causes a long-term infection, called chronic hepatitis B. Over time, it can damage your liver. Babies and young children infected with the virus are more likely to get chronic hepatitis B.

You can have hepatitis B and not know it. You may not have symptoms. If you do, they can make you feel like you have the flu. But as long as you have the virus, you can spread it to others.

It's caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is spread through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person.

You may get hepatitis B if you:

• Have sex with an infected person without using a condom.
• Share needles (used for injecting drugs) with an infected person.
• Get a tattoo or piercing with tools that weren't sterilized.
• Share personal items like razors or toothbrushes with an infected person.

A mother who has the virus can pass it to her baby during delivery. Medical experts recommend that all pregnant women get tested for hepatitis B. If you have the virus, your baby can get shots to help prevent infection with the virus.

You cannot get hepatitis B from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or drinks.

Many people with hepatitis B don't know they have it, because they don't have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may just feel like you have the flu.

Symptoms include:

• Feeling very tired.
• Mild fever.
• Headache.
• Not wanting to eat.
• Feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting.
• Belly pain.
• Tan-colored bowel movements (stools).
• Dark urine.
• Yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice). Jaundice usually appears only after other symptoms have started to go away.

Effects

·         Liver damage

·         Liver cancer

Prevention/control

·         Abstain from sex

·         Vaccination

·         Avoid sexual contact with affected person

·         Use screened blood for transfusion

·         Do not share clinical needles, and blades

·         Medical treatment.