12 - 1 Flashcards
Chlamydia
(Curable)
Typically, people do not experience symptoms
Laboratory tests exposed to the bacteria for diagnosis
Treatment includes antibiotics
Is curable
Risk of reinfection is high – retest after three months
Gonorrhea
(Curable)
In males – urethritis – burning urination sensation
Most females are asymptomatic
Detected by lab tests after exposure
Antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea
Is curable
But drug resistance is becoming a problem
Can be reinfected if exposed to infected partner
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
(Curable)
May experience pain, fever, chills and nausea
Symptoms begin or worsen with the onset of menses
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Diagnosis made on basis of symptoms, physical examination, ultrasound and lab tests
Laparoscopy may be used to confirm diagnosis
Treatment should begin immediately (antibiotics)
Important that the female’s partner be treated
Is curable
Syphilis
(Curable)
Pathogen passes through any break in the tissues
Primary syphilis: chancre appears 10-90 days after exposure
Secondary syphilis: skin rash 3 – 6 weeks after the chancre
Hands and feet usually involved
Rash is highly contagious
Patchy hair loss, weight loss and flu-like symptoms
Tertiary syphilis – may appear 10-20 years after original infection
May damaged many of the organs of the body
Neurosyphilis – invades the nervous system at any time of the infection
Examination of infected tissues and blood test
All stages can be treated with antibiotics, but damage from neurosyphilis can be permanent
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
(curable)
One of the most common in the world
Can cause genital warts and genital cancers
—–Causes ALL cervical cancers
Most have no symptoms – immune system may clear HPV on its own
Untreated warts grow into a “cauliflower-like” mass
—–In males – around the penis, in females around the labia or vulva and may progress to the perineum
Incubation may be one month to two years after infection
Diagnosis is on the appearance of the lesions
HPV detected on routine pap tests
Special tests are available to detect the presence of cancer-causing HPV infections
Warts may be removed by cryosurgery
May be treated surgically, electrical incision, freezing or laser
HSV1 is more common
you get cold sores
HSV2 is genital herpes
Genital Herpes
(for life - no cure)
90% of infected people have no symptoms
Those who do see the lesions in 2 – 20 days
First episode usually causes flu like symptoms
Lesions tend to be itchy and painful
May cause pain on urination
Prodromal symptoms – precede recurring infections
May be caused by stress, illness, fatigue, sexual intercourse etc.
Sample of lesion fluid sent to lab for examination
Distinguish between HSV1 and HSV2 infection
No cure for herpes
Always inform sexual partners
HIV Infection and Aids
(no cure) - Has to be passed through blood
Populations of special concern for HIV infection:
1. Sexually active people
2. People who inject drugs
3. Men having sex with other men
Young men are particularly at risk:
1. Use of drugs and alcohol are strongly associated
2. Methamphetamines and “club drugs”
3. Recreational use of erectile dysfunction drugs
Symptoms of HIV infection and Aids
Fever
Headache
Fatigue
Rashes
Swollen lymph nodes
Night sweats
Sore throat
Nausea
Ulcers in the mouth
When you get HIV infection or AIDS basically you start to lose white blood cells. And it seems to affect your immune system highly. And it can kind of seem like you’re getting the flu that just doesn’t seem to go away.
Diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection and Aids
Diagnosed via blood test
No known cure for HIV
Antiretroviral therapy can extent life
Which can extend the quality of life and how long the person is going to live. But there is no cure. It’s again, kind of like herpes, where you try to bring down the like illness or infection as much as possible, but there’s no actually getting rid of it. Once it’s in your system. It stays there for life.
Prevention of HIV infection and Aids
- Correct and consistent use of condoms
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Abstinence
How can you protect yourself
1. Careful choices about sexual activity – not sharing bodily fluids
2. Not sharing needles
Hepatitis A, B and C
There is a vaccine for Hepatitis
No cure for HBV infection
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver
Hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV)
Most people will not develop symptoms
Normal incubation period is 30 – 180 days
Fever, body aches, chills and loss of appetite
Nausea, vomit, dark-coloured urine abdominal pain and jaundice
Most adults will recover, others may become chronic
Chronic hepatitis can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer
Diagnosed by blood tests to determine liver function
No cure for HBV infection
Antiviral drugs and immune system modulators
The current vaccine is 95% effective
So it is important if you go into certain places in the world to get your vaccine.
t’s not as much of an issue here in Canada but in other parts of the world. You had much higher risk of attaining one of these especially through food.
Bacterial vaginosis
(other STI)
Common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge
Healthy bacteria of the vaginal canal replaced by unhealthy bacteria
May be associated with sexual activity
Pubic lice
(other STI)
Commonly called ”Crabs”
Parasitic infestation – treated with topical medications
Sometimes may require special treatment
Scabies
(other STI)
Like lice, however burrow into the tissue between the fingers
Often found in infested gloves
Education
Most educational institutions have
—-STI counselling programs
—-Encourage the chance to practice safe sex
—-Have paid off in changing attitudes and sexual behaviours
STI hotlines and local health clinics
—Provide free confidential information and referral services
Position to educate others
—-Provides an opportunity to make a difference in your own wellness and the wellness of others
Diagnosis and Treatment
Get vaccinated
Every sexually active person should be vaccinated for HBV
If travelling, get vaccinated for HAV
Men (9-26) and females (9-45) should be vaccinated for HPV
Be alert for symptoms
Be alert for any symptom of infection – rash, discharge or sores
Only physicians can make the diagnosis of an STI
Perform self-examinations
Get tested
If you are sexually active, get periodic STI checks (even if no symptoms)
If you have a risky sexual encounter – see a physician ASAP
Diagnosis and Treatment 2
Inform your partners
It is not easy, but it is your obligation to inform partners of potential infection
Public health departments will notify sex partners of their possible exposure
Maintain confidence and anonymity
Get treatment
Treatments are safe and inexpensive
If being treated, follow instructions explicitly
If you are being treated, your partner needs treatment too
Prevention
STIs are preventable – abstinence is the only sure way not to become infected
If sexually active, think about prevention before your sexual encouters
From High Risk to Low Risk for HIV infection and AIDS
- Unprotected anal sex
- Unprotected vaginal intercourse
- Oral sex
- Sharing of sex toys
- Use of a condom
- Hand-genital contact and deep kissing
- Sex with only one uninfected and totally faithful partner
- Activities that don’t involve the exchange of body fluids
- Abstinence
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) is used interchangeably with the term sexually transmitted disease (STD) and is gradually replacing it.
Chlamydia can cause epididymitis and urethritis in men;
in women, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility if untreated.
Untreated gonorrhea can cause PID in women and epididymitis in men,
—–Can also cause infertility
PID is an infection of the uterus and oviducts and
Can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain
