Download Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually Transmitted
Infections
STI’s or STD’s
• Infections that are spread from person to
person through sexual contact
• There are more than 25 known STI’s,
many of which are difficult to track bc ppl
who have them do not exhibit symptoms
• Other cases are not reported bc ppl do not
seek treatment due to shame, fear, or
ignorance
Widespread among teens
• Approx 15 million ppl contract 1 or more
STI’s every year, ¼ of these new cases
are in teens
• Currently > 65 million have incurable STI
• Y? many STI’s have no symptoms or don’t
ever show up, others have a lengthy delay
b/t infection and symptoms
Sexually Active Teens at a higher
risk bc
• Engaging in Sexual acts w/o protection
• Using alcohol or other drugs bc they cause
inhibitions to lower
• Being sexually active with more than one
person at a time or over time
• Choosing high-risk partners who have a
history of being sexually active
More reasons…
• Choosing a high-risk partner who have a
history of Intravenous Drug Use
• Choosing a partner who seems to be low
risk but really isn't
Most common STI’s in US
• Human Papillomavirus, HPV – a virus
that causes genital warts and warts on
other parts of the body
• Believed to be the most commonly
contracted of all the STI’s
• Many cases go unreported & unnoticed,
approx 5.5 million ppl contract ea. Year
• Approx 20 million already have it
HPV cont’d
• Most easily recognized symptom is genital warts
(venereal warts) are soft, moist, pink or red
swellings that appear on the genitals
• Grow in clusters spread into large masses
• Over 100 types of HPV, 30 of which are
transmitted thru oral, anal, & vaginal sexual
contact
• Certain types linked to cervical cancer, including
some which are associated with cancers of the
vulva, penis and anus
HPV found in
• Females – if present genital warts are
found on the vulva, in the vagina, on the
cervix, or around the anus
• Males – if present genital warts are found
on the penis, scrotum, groin, thigh or
around the anus
• Genital warts found only rarely in the
mouth or throat
HPV
• Commonly diagnosed by an exam of
genital warts
• May disappear by themselves, or removed
by laser, being frozen, burned or cut off
• Doesn’t eliminate the virus, however
• Will recur AND the virus remains in the
body for life
Chlamydia
• An STI that is caused by the bacterium
Chlamydia trachomatis
• Most commonly reported bacterial STI in
US, & most commonly reported infectious
disease
• Approx 2 million curr. infected, 3 million
become infected ea. year
• 40 % of reported cases ppl 15 -19 yrs old
MORE Chlamydia
• Despite being easily cured, one of the
most dangerous, bc it easily goes
undiagnosed
• 75% of women, n 50% of male with it
have NO symptoms, but can spread it
• If symptoms do occur, usually appear
within 1-3 weeks of sexual contact with an
infected person
Diagnosis of Chlamydia
• Made by testing a specimen collected from
infected site for bacteria
• More recent test involves checking a urine
sample for bacteria
• If diagnosed with Chlamydia, antibiotics
can easily CURE the infection
Chlamydia symptoms
• Females – early stages small % develop
an abnormal vaginal discharge or a
burning sensation when urinating
• Males – may have a discharge from the
penis and a burning sensation when
urinating
• 40 % of females with untreated Chlamydia
will develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• PID – a painful infection of the uterus,
fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries
• Permanent damage to these structures can
result, along with severe pelvic pain,
infertility, and increased likelihood of ectopic
pregnancy
• 3-5 times as likely to be infected with HIV if
exposed to it, if you have an active
Chlamydia infection
Gonorrhea
• An STI caused by bacterium Neisseria
Gonorrhoeae, a bacteria that live in
warm, moist areas of the body.
• 650,000 reported new cases each year, it
is an extremely common infectious disease
Gonorrhea
• Teens & young adults have the highest
incidences of gonorrhea
• Females ages 15-19 highest reported rate
• Males ages 20-24 highest reported rate
• Thrives in mucous membranes of the cervix,
uterus & fallopian tubes in females, the urethra
in females & males; & also in the mouth, throat,
and anus in females and males
Gonorrhea symptoms
• Most males will show some signs when
infected
• Usually appear 2- 5 days after infection,
but can also take up to 30 days
• Burning sensation when urinating,
yellowish-white discharge from penis,
sometimes painful or swollen testicles
Gonorrhea symptoms
• Females it can go unnoticed bc rarely
show symptoms
• Early symptoms go unnoticed bc they are
mild and mistaken for something else
• Burning sensation when urinating, yellow
vaginal discharge that may be tinged with
blood
Gonorrhea symptoms
• Rectal infection – anal discharge, itching,
soreness, and bleeding, as well as painful
bowel movements – MALE & FEMALE
• Throat infections causes few symptoms
• If untreated can lead to PID in females,
and epididymitis in males – inflammation
of the testes – can cause sterility
• Treated with antibiotics
Herpes
• 2 types – simplex type 1 & simplex type 2
• HSV-1 causes cold sores – blisters on the
mouth and lips of infected ppl.
• HSV-2 causes genital herpes
HSV-1
• Very common n the US, but Not
considered a STI
• Virus can e spread thru saliva to another
person when lesions are present
• HSV-1 infection can occur on the genitals
following oral-genital contact with a
person who has a cold sore
HSV-2
• 45 million ppl. in US curr. infected - 1 million
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•
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new cases each year
1 in 4 females and 1 in 5 males have the
virus
The # of teens and young adults with HSV-2
is increasing dramatically
Spread from open sores during sexual
contact, but it also can be released when
lesions are not present
HSV-2
• Person with frequently has no symptoms
• If they do occur, it is usually within two
weeks of exposure to the virus and
consists of an outbreak of blisters on or
around the genitals or rectum
• Some may get a fever or swollen glands
• After blisters break, painful lesions remain
and may take 2-4 weeks to heal
HSV-2
• Within a few weeks another outbreak may
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•
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occur, usually less severe than the 1st
May have 4-5 episodes in the first year, and the
fewer as the years go by
Once you contract HSV-2, you have it for the
remainder of your life
Are antiviral medications to control the duration
and severity of episodes, but not rid the body of
the virus
HSV-1 & HSV-2
• Anyone who has an active episode of
either virus should avoid touching the
lesion; careful personal hygiene, including
hand-washing, does help in preventing the
spread of herpes to other ppl and other
areas of one’s body
Hepatitis B
• HBV is a viral STI that attacks the liver and can
cause extreme illness and death
• Transmitted when blood or other body fluids
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from an infected person enter the body of
another
Spread through sexual activity as well, drug
users who share needles from an infected
person
Tattoo's or body piercings‘ where instruments
are not sterilized or inks are used over
Hepatitis B symptoms
• Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea
and vomiting, joint pain & loss of appetite
• Can be treated with drugs-effective in
40% of individuals
• Vaccine available since 1982, given to
children from birth to 18
Hepatitis C
• Virus, blood-borne infection
• Can lead to chronic liver disease, liver
cancer, & liver failure
• Asymptomatic – progresses slowly
• Transmitted thru sexual contact and any
direct contact with contaminated blood
• NO CURE for hepatitis C
Syphilis
• STI caused by the bacterium Treponema
Pallidum, and it progresses in stages
• Spread by direct contact with a chancre, a
painless sore that appears early, or with
the infectious rash that appears later
• Transmitted thru sexual activity
Stages of Syphilis
• Untreated syphilis progresses thru 3
stages
• Primary stage - 10-90 days after infection
– a small, firm, round sore called a
chancre appears where bacterium entered
the body
• Sore is painless & lasts 3-6 weeks can
disappear without treatment
Stages of Syphilis
• Secondary stage – an infectious rash of
rough, red or reddish-brown spots appears
on the palms of the hands and soles of
the feet
• Flulike symptoms, hair loss, & weight loss
can occur.
• Rash can disappear without treatment
Stages of Syphilis
• Late Stage – organism last in the body,
damaging organs including brain, nerves,
eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, &
joints
• Symptoms include loss of muscle
coordination, paralysis, blindness, and
dementia.
• Can lead to death
Diagnosis of Syphilis
• Blood test or laboratory exam of material
from primary chancre or secondary rash
• Easily cured with antibiotics – but once
damage to internal organs occurs, there is
no way to repair the damage
Vaginitis
• Many types of vaginitis, inflammation of
the vagina caused by various organisms
• Only 2 however are transmitted sexually,
both infections are treated with the
prescription drug metronidazole
• Trichomonasis and Bacterial Vaginosis
Trichomonasis
• An STI caused by the parasite
Trichomonas vaginalis, affects both males
and females
• Infected males – rarely have symptoms –
irritation inside the penis, mild discharge,
or slight burning after urinating or
ejaculation
Trichomonasis
• Infected females – 5-28 days after
exposure symptoms appear – foamy,
yellow-green vaginal discharge with a
strong odor, can also cause genital
irritation & itching, and discomfort during
intercourse & urination
Bacterial Vaginosis - BV
• An STI caused by an imbalance of bacteria
normally found in the vagina – affects only
females
• Little is known about the cause, but
having intercourse with a new partner and
douching may be contributing factors
Bacterial Vaginosis - BV
• Symptoms, when present include white or
gray vagina discharge with a strong odor
as well as itching and burning around the
vagina
• BV increases risk of gonorrhea may lead
to PID
Pubic Lice
• Also known as “crabs” tiny parasitic
insects that infest in the genital area of
humans.
• Spread thru sexual contact, and in rare
circumstances from infested bed linens,
towels, and clothing since lice can live for
a short time away from their host
Symptoms of Pubic Lice
• Main – intense itching
• Usually live in pubic hair but can also live
in the coarse hair of legs, armpits,
mustaches, beards, eyebrows, and
eyelashes
• Lice that infect a persons head are NOT
pubic lice
Treatment of Pubic Lice
• Medicated shampoos OTC and Dr.’s
Prescription
• Shampoos are harsh and should not be
used on eyebrows or eyelashes – have a
special ointment that will not damage the
eyes by prescription only
Scabies
• An STI infestation of the skin with
microscopic mites called Sarcoptes Scabiei
• Spread thru sharing of infested bedding &
clothing and thru prolonged skin-2-skin
contact
• CAN NOT be transmitted by shaking
someone’s hand
Symptoms of Scabies
• Appear 4-6 weeks after contact, a pimplelike
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rash, particularly b/t fingers and in skin folds on
the body
Also on the penis, breast, and shoulder blades
Rash causes severe itching, sores can be
infected from scratching
Fewer than 10 mites are usually present on an
infected person, making diagnosis difficult
Treatment of Scabies
• Special lotions are available and everyone
living in the same household as the
infected person should get treatment as
well at the same time
General Treatment of STI’s
• Follow Dr.’s orders for treatment and
finish all medication prescribed. Never
stop taking med’s bc symptoms went
away
• Notify everyone with whom he or she has
had sexual contact
• Remember that abstinence only 100%
effective