STI’s : Sexually Transmitted Infections

1. STI’s: Sexually Transmitted Infections By: Matthew Flaherty and Christian Wanamaker

2. Chlamydia • Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria • Symptoms: Males - inflammation of the epididymis and urethra, mucus in the morning, and burning feeling with urination. Females - inflammation of vagina and cervix, may be discharge. Other symptoms may include nausea, fever, bleeding, and abdominal pain • Treatment options: antibiotics for 2-3 weeks • If left untreated, Chlamydia can cause sterility, or the inability to have children • Many people can’t tell that they have it • A doctor uses a cotton swab to collect discharge to test if you have it • Chlamydia can be spread by any kind of sexual contact and can be spread from mother to fetus

3. Syphilis • Syphilis is an STI caused by spirochetes that produce a chancre, skin rash, and damage to body organs • Stage One: The spirochete drills a hole in the area of infection, which causes the chancre. • Stage Two: A rash of small round patches covers the entire body. However, this rash may or may not itch. There might also be fever, headaches, and loss of weight and hair. Again, these symptoms will disappear after a few weeks if not treated • Stage Three (The Hidden Stage): Symptoms might appear and disappear several times. The spirochete affects tissues and organs. • Stage Four: If left untreated, the spirochetes damage several body organs. The heart and nervous systems are damaged. Blindness, paralysis, liver damage, and mental damage can occur. People often seek medical help when these symptoms appear. However, damage to organs is permanent.

4. Syphilis (Cont.) • A blood test will detect the presence of syphilis in any stage. • Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics • Syphilis can be spread by having intimate sexual contact with an infected person and it can be spread by a blood transfusion • The spirochete can be transmitted from mother to fetus. This is called Congenital syphilis and it can cause mental retardation and other birth defects.

5. HPV • HPV or Genital Warts are dry, wart like growths that are caused by the Human Papillomavirus. • They are spread by any sexual contact with an infected person • They so up 3-8 months after infection • They should be treated right away with medications, freezing, or burning of the warts • Since it is a virus it will reoccur and must be treated multiple times • It can lead to development of cervical cancer

6. Herpes • Genital Herpes is cause by a virus that produces cold sores or fever blisters in the genital area or mouth • It are passed through any skin to skin contact. • After a few days after contact the blisters break and red, painful, open sores are leftover. • Symptoms: fatigue, fever, headaches, burning during urination, and pain and swelling in the lymph nodes. • Symptoms go away and reappear in times of stress or illness. Once again since it is a virus it cannot be completely cured. • The test for Herpes are special lab tests. • The only treatment is a drug that relieves symptoms on a short term basis. • A female who is infected and give birth can cause brain damage and blindness to the child.

7. Pubic Lice • Pubic Lice is an infestation of pubic or crab lice • They are insects that are yellowish gray in color and about the size of a pinhead. They attach themselves to the pubic hairs and burrow into the skin and eat the blood of their host. • They are not only spread through intercourse but also bedding, clothes, and furniture that are shared. • Symptoms: little black dots on parts with dense hair growth which are the lice. The infected person will feel intense itching in area where infected. • In order to treat pubic lice a doctor finds the infected area and prescribes a specific lotion to kill lice. There are also over the counter preparations. • The lice can only live outside of the body for one day.

8. Gonorrhea • Gonorrhea is a bacterial STI caused by bacteria that produces discharge from the urethra and/or vagina. • Symptoms: In males this discharge is white and milky and is excreted 2-9 days after infection. For females it is emitted from the vagina. Both males and females can feel a burning sensation while urinating. • Some females do not experience symptoms. • Doctors test for Gonorrhea by examining the discharge under a microscope. • Penicillin and antibiotics are ways of treatment. • If not treated it can cause sterility (see slide 2 for meaning), heart damage, arthritis, and blindness to children who are born to an infected mother. In woman it can also lead to PID (see slide 10).

9. NGU • Nongonococcal Urethritis is an STI that produces an inflammation and infection of the urethra. • Many cases of NGU are caused by bacteria although many cases have unknown causes. • Symptoms: Males- painful and frequent urination with discharge similar to that of Chlamydia. The symptom may disappear for a while if not treated. Females- Some have none. While others have mild symptoms including itching and burning urination. • In order to diagnose NGU a lab test is preformed on the discharge so that the correct treatment is prescribed. If caused by bacteria the infected person takes prescribed antibiotics. • If left untreated the victim can develop PID (see slide 10)

10. PID • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is an inflammation of the abdominal pelvic cavity • It is caused by bacterial STI’s such as gonorrhea and NGU that are left untreated • Symptoms: Fever, vaginal discharge for women, painful intercourse and urination, irregular, and pain in the upper abdominal region (rare) • PID is diagnosed by a physical exam, tests for discharge, and sonogram tests. • Treatment: Antibiotic therapy, drugs to ease pain, and IV fluids are used to treat people who are infected.