Dr.Ayman
09-25-2002, 04:15 PM
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Definition
Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a term used to describe more than 20 different infections that are transmitted through exchange of semen, blood, and other body fluids; or by direct contact with the affected body areas of people with STDs. Sexually transmitted diseases are also called venereal diseases.
Description
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 85% of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the United States are sexually transmitted. The rate of STDs in this country is 50-100 times higher than that of any other industrialized nation. One in four sexually active Americans will be affected by an STD at some time in his or her life.
About 12 million new STD infections occur in the United States each year. One in four occurs in someone between the ages of 16 and 19. Almost 65% of all STD infections affect people under the age of 25.
Types of STDs
STDs can have very painful long-term consequences as well as immediate health problems. They can cause:
Birth defects
Blindness
Bone deformities
Brain damage
Cancer
Heart disease
Infertility and other abnormalities of the reproductive system
Mental retardation
Death.
Some of the most common and potentially serious STDs in the United States include:
Chlamydial diseases-- including lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and chlamydial urethritis-- and gonorrhea. These STDs can cause sterility or potentially fatal infections of the upper genital tract. A chlamydia is a microscopic organism that lives as a parasite inside human cells.
Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV causes genital warts. It is the single most important risk factor for cervical cancer in women.
Genital herpes. Herpes is an incurable viral infection thought to be one of the most common STDs in this country.
Syphilis. Syphilis is a potentially life-threatening infection that increases the likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV. One type of syphilis is congenital syphilis, which causes irreversible health problems or death in as many as 40% of all live babies born to women with untreated syphilis.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. As of 1998, there is no cure for this STD.
Social groups and STDs
STDs affect certain population groups more severely than others. Women, young people, and members of minority groups are particularly affected. Women in any age bracket are more likely than men to develop medical complications related to STDs. With respect to racial and ethnic categories, the incidence of syphilis is 60 times higher among African Americans than among Caucasians, and four times higher in Hispanics than in Anglos. African Americans are 40 times more likely than Caucasians to develop gonorrhea, and as much as three times more likely to acquire genital herpes.
Causes & symptoms
The symptoms of STDs vary somewhat according to the disease agent (whether a virus, a bacterium, or a chlamydia), the sex of the patient, and the body systems affected. The symptoms of some STDs are easy to identify; others produce infections that may either go unnoticed for some time or are easy to confuse with other diseases. Syphilis in particular can be confused with disorders ranging from infectious mononucleosis to allergic reactions to prescription medications. In addition, the incubation period of STDs varies. Some produce symptoms close enough to the time of sexual contact-- often less than 48 hours later-- for the patient to recognize the connection between the behavior and the symptoms. Others have a longer incubation period, so that the patient may not recognize the early symptoms as those of a sexually transmitted infection.
Some symptoms of STDs affect the genitals and reproductive organs:
A woman who has an STD may bleed when she is not menstruating or have an abnormal vaginal discharge. Vaginal burning, itching, and odor are common, and she may experience pain in her pelvic area or while having sex.
A discharge from the tip of the penis may be a sign that a man has an STD. Males may also have painful or burning sensations when they urinate.
There may be swelling of the lymph nodes near the groin area.
Both men and women may develop skin rashes, sores, bumps, or blisters near the mouth or genitals. Homosexual men frequently develop these symptoms in the area around the anus.
Other symptoms of STDs are systemic, which means that they affect the body as a whole. These symptoms may include:
Fever, chills, and similar flu-like symptoms
Skin rashes over large parts of the body
Arthritis-like pains or aching in the joints
Throat swelling and redness that lasts for three weeks or longer.
Diagnosis
A sexually active person who has symptoms of an STD or who has had an STD or symptoms of infection should be examined without delay by a:
Specialist in women's health (gynecologist)
Specialist in disorders of the urinary tract and the male sexual organs (urologist)
Family physician
Nurse practitioner
Specialist in skin disorders (dermatologist).
The diagnostic process begins with a thorough physical examination and a detailed medical history that documents the patient's sexual history and assesses the risk of infection.
The doctor or other healthcare professional will:
Describe the testing process. This includes all blood tests and other tests that may be relevant to the specific infection.
Explain the meaning of the test results.
Provide the patient with information regarding high-risk behaviors and any necessary treatments or procedures.
The doctor may suggest that a patient diagnosed with one STD be tested for others. It's possible to have more than one STD at a time. One infection may hide the symptoms of another or create a climate that fosters its growth. At present, it is particularly important that persons who are HIV-positive be tested for syphilis as well.
Notification
The law in most parts of the United States requires public health officials to trace and contact the partners of persons with STDs. Minors, however, can get treatment without their parents' permission. Public health departments in most states can provide information about STD clinic locations; Planned Parenthood facilities provide testing and counseling. These agencies can also help with or assume the responsibility of notifying sexual partners who must be tested and may require treatment.
Treatment
Although self-care can relieve some of the pain of genital herpes or genital warts that has recurred after being diagnosed and treated by a physician, other STD symptoms require immediate medical attention.
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and other STDs caused by bacteria. Although prompt diagnosis and early treatment almost always cures these STDs, new infections can develop if exposure continues or is renewed.
Prognosis
The prognosis for recovery from STDs varies from disease to disease. The prognosis for recovery from gonorrhea, syphilis, and other STDs caused by bacteria is generally good, provided that the disease is diagnosed early and treated promptly. Untreated syphilis in particular can lead to long-term complications and disability. Viral STDs (genital herpes, genital warts, HIV) cannot be cured but must be treated on a long-term basis to relieve symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications.
Prevention
Vaccines
Vaccines for the prevention of hepatitis A and hepatitis B are currently recommended for gay and bisexual men, users of illegal drugs, and others at risk of contracting these diseases. Vaccines to prevent other STDs are being tested and may be available within several years.
Lifestyle choices
The risk of becoming infected with an STD can be reduced or eliminated by decisions about personal behavior. Abstinence from sexual relations or a monogamous relationship with a partner who is not having sex outside it are legitimate options. It is also wise to avoid sexual contact with partners who are known to be infected with an STD, whose health status is unknown, who abuse drugs, or who are involved in prostitution.
Use of condoms and other contraceptives
Men or women who have sex with an infected partner should make sure a new condom is used every time they have genital, oral, or anal contact. Used correctly and consistently, male condoms provide good protection against HIV and other STDs.
Female condoms (lubricated sheaths inserted into the vagina) have been shown to be effective in preventing HIV and other viral STDs. Researchers believe female condoms will substantially reduce the risk of developing other STDs; however, studies testing that theory have not yet been completed.
Spermicides and diaphragms can prevent transmission of some STDs. They do not protect women from contracting HIV. Birth-control pills, patches, or injections do not prevent STDs. Neither do surgical sterilization or hysterectomy.
Hygienic measures
Urinating and washing the genital area with soap and water immediately after having sex may eliminate some germs before they cause infection. Douching, however, can spread infection deeper into the womb. It may increase a woman's risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Definition
Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a term used to describe more than 20 different infections that are transmitted through exchange of semen, blood, and other body fluids; or by direct contact with the affected body areas of people with STDs. Sexually transmitted diseases are also called venereal diseases.
Description
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 85% of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the United States are sexually transmitted. The rate of STDs in this country is 50-100 times higher than that of any other industrialized nation. One in four sexually active Americans will be affected by an STD at some time in his or her life.
About 12 million new STD infections occur in the United States each year. One in four occurs in someone between the ages of 16 and 19. Almost 65% of all STD infections affect people under the age of 25.
Types of STDs
STDs can have very painful long-term consequences as well as immediate health problems. They can cause:
Birth defects
Blindness
Bone deformities
Brain damage
Cancer
Heart disease
Infertility and other abnormalities of the reproductive system
Mental retardation
Death.
Some of the most common and potentially serious STDs in the United States include:
Chlamydial diseases-- including lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and chlamydial urethritis-- and gonorrhea. These STDs can cause sterility or potentially fatal infections of the upper genital tract. A chlamydia is a microscopic organism that lives as a parasite inside human cells.
Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV causes genital warts. It is the single most important risk factor for cervical cancer in women.
Genital herpes. Herpes is an incurable viral infection thought to be one of the most common STDs in this country.
Syphilis. Syphilis is a potentially life-threatening infection that increases the likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV. One type of syphilis is congenital syphilis, which causes irreversible health problems or death in as many as 40% of all live babies born to women with untreated syphilis.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. As of 1998, there is no cure for this STD.
Social groups and STDs
STDs affect certain population groups more severely than others. Women, young people, and members of minority groups are particularly affected. Women in any age bracket are more likely than men to develop medical complications related to STDs. With respect to racial and ethnic categories, the incidence of syphilis is 60 times higher among African Americans than among Caucasians, and four times higher in Hispanics than in Anglos. African Americans are 40 times more likely than Caucasians to develop gonorrhea, and as much as three times more likely to acquire genital herpes.
Causes & symptoms
The symptoms of STDs vary somewhat according to the disease agent (whether a virus, a bacterium, or a chlamydia), the sex of the patient, and the body systems affected. The symptoms of some STDs are easy to identify; others produce infections that may either go unnoticed for some time or are easy to confuse with other diseases. Syphilis in particular can be confused with disorders ranging from infectious mononucleosis to allergic reactions to prescription medications. In addition, the incubation period of STDs varies. Some produce symptoms close enough to the time of sexual contact-- often less than 48 hours later-- for the patient to recognize the connection between the behavior and the symptoms. Others have a longer incubation period, so that the patient may not recognize the early symptoms as those of a sexually transmitted infection.
Some symptoms of STDs affect the genitals and reproductive organs:
A woman who has an STD may bleed when she is not menstruating or have an abnormal vaginal discharge. Vaginal burning, itching, and odor are common, and she may experience pain in her pelvic area or while having sex.
A discharge from the tip of the penis may be a sign that a man has an STD. Males may also have painful or burning sensations when they urinate.
There may be swelling of the lymph nodes near the groin area.
Both men and women may develop skin rashes, sores, bumps, or blisters near the mouth or genitals. Homosexual men frequently develop these symptoms in the area around the anus.
Other symptoms of STDs are systemic, which means that they affect the body as a whole. These symptoms may include:
Fever, chills, and similar flu-like symptoms
Skin rashes over large parts of the body
Arthritis-like pains or aching in the joints
Throat swelling and redness that lasts for three weeks or longer.
Diagnosis
A sexually active person who has symptoms of an STD or who has had an STD or symptoms of infection should be examined without delay by a:
Specialist in women's health (gynecologist)
Specialist in disorders of the urinary tract and the male sexual organs (urologist)
Family physician
Nurse practitioner
Specialist in skin disorders (dermatologist).
The diagnostic process begins with a thorough physical examination and a detailed medical history that documents the patient's sexual history and assesses the risk of infection.
The doctor or other healthcare professional will:
Describe the testing process. This includes all blood tests and other tests that may be relevant to the specific infection.
Explain the meaning of the test results.
Provide the patient with information regarding high-risk behaviors and any necessary treatments or procedures.
The doctor may suggest that a patient diagnosed with one STD be tested for others. It's possible to have more than one STD at a time. One infection may hide the symptoms of another or create a climate that fosters its growth. At present, it is particularly important that persons who are HIV-positive be tested for syphilis as well.
Notification
The law in most parts of the United States requires public health officials to trace and contact the partners of persons with STDs. Minors, however, can get treatment without their parents' permission. Public health departments in most states can provide information about STD clinic locations; Planned Parenthood facilities provide testing and counseling. These agencies can also help with or assume the responsibility of notifying sexual partners who must be tested and may require treatment.
Treatment
Although self-care can relieve some of the pain of genital herpes or genital warts that has recurred after being diagnosed and treated by a physician, other STD symptoms require immediate medical attention.
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and other STDs caused by bacteria. Although prompt diagnosis and early treatment almost always cures these STDs, new infections can develop if exposure continues or is renewed.
Prognosis
The prognosis for recovery from STDs varies from disease to disease. The prognosis for recovery from gonorrhea, syphilis, and other STDs caused by bacteria is generally good, provided that the disease is diagnosed early and treated promptly. Untreated syphilis in particular can lead to long-term complications and disability. Viral STDs (genital herpes, genital warts, HIV) cannot be cured but must be treated on a long-term basis to relieve symptoms and prevent life-threatening complications.
Prevention
Vaccines
Vaccines for the prevention of hepatitis A and hepatitis B are currently recommended for gay and bisexual men, users of illegal drugs, and others at risk of contracting these diseases. Vaccines to prevent other STDs are being tested and may be available within several years.
Lifestyle choices
The risk of becoming infected with an STD can be reduced or eliminated by decisions about personal behavior. Abstinence from sexual relations or a monogamous relationship with a partner who is not having sex outside it are legitimate options. It is also wise to avoid sexual contact with partners who are known to be infected with an STD, whose health status is unknown, who abuse drugs, or who are involved in prostitution.
Use of condoms and other contraceptives
Men or women who have sex with an infected partner should make sure a new condom is used every time they have genital, oral, or anal contact. Used correctly and consistently, male condoms provide good protection against HIV and other STDs.
Female condoms (lubricated sheaths inserted into the vagina) have been shown to be effective in preventing HIV and other viral STDs. Researchers believe female condoms will substantially reduce the risk of developing other STDs; however, studies testing that theory have not yet been completed.
Spermicides and diaphragms can prevent transmission of some STDs. They do not protect women from contracting HIV. Birth-control pills, patches, or injections do not prevent STDs. Neither do surgical sterilization or hysterectomy.
Hygienic measures
Urinating and washing the genital area with soap and water immediately after having sex may eliminate some germs before they cause infection. Douching, however, can spread infection deeper into the womb. It may increase a woman's risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).