STDs Flashcards
bacterial infections
chlamydia
gonorrhea
syphilis
Chlamydia cause who gets it transmission risks
Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
Most common in 15-24-year-old women who are sexually active
Transmission:
Vaginal, oral or anal sex
Genital contact without ejaculation or penetration
Sharing or sex toys
Childbirth (baby - conjunctivitis, pneumonia)
Increased risk for contracting:
Multiple sex partners
Barrier methods not utilized
Previous infection
chlamydia symptoms
70-95% of women infected have no symptoms – “silent” infection
Starts with infection of cervix and spreads to other organs
Fever
Nausea
Vaginal discharge (yellowish) with strong smell
Bleeding between periods
Pain during intercourse
Spread to urinary tract: frequent urination with burning
Spread to rectum: anal pain, discharge, bleeding
Spread to eyes: redness, pain, discharge (conjunctivitis)
Spread to upper reproductive tract: PID
Lower back/abdominal pain
Chronic pelvic pain (months to years)
PID: Pelvic inflammatory disease
If an infection enters the uterus and oviducts (fallopian tubes) it can spread to other pelvic organs.
Infections include STDs (but not limited to these types of infections)
- Chlamydia and Gonorrhea - major causes
- IUD insertion at time of vaginal infection
- Unsterile abortion procedure
Salpingitis – infection in oviducts
- Scar tissue may form – blocks tubes
- Increases risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility
chlamydia diagnosi, treatment, and screening
Diagnosis
Urine test or tissue swabs from vagina, cervix, rectum or throat – NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test)
Looks for a specific nucleic acid sequence that is found in a particular pathogen
Treatment
Antibiotics (azithromycin or doxycycline) – work great!
Does not reverse scarring/tissue damage
Annual screening – great idea!
< 25 years old and sexually active
> 25 years old and new/multiple partners
Gonorrhea cause who gets it transmission risks
Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Most common in:
15-24-year-old women who are sexually active
Gay, bisexual males
Transmission:
Vaginal, oral or anal sex
Genital contact without ejaculation or penetration
Childbirth (baby –eyes: discharge and loss of sight without treatment)
Silver nitrate or antibiotic at birth
Increased risk for contracting:
Multiple sex partners
Barrier methods not utilized
Previous infection
gonorrhea symptoms
Most women infected are asymptomatic
Often mild and mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection
Fever
Vaginal discharge (whitish fluid that changes to pus-like)
Bleeding between periods
Pain during intercourse
Spread to urinary tract: frequent urination with burning
Spread to rectum: anal pain and itching, discharge, bleeding, painful bowel movements
Sore throat
Spread to upper reproductive tract: PID
May spread through blood to heart, brain, spinal cord membranes, eyes, skin, joints (disseminated gonococcal infection)
Gonorrhea diagnosis, treatment, and screening
Diagnosis
Tissue swabs from vagina, cervix, rectum or throat – NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test)
Treatment
Antibiotic resistance has been a continual problem
IV Ceftriaxone
Annual screening – great idea!
Sexually active women with new/multiple partners
Syphilis
cause
transmission
Caused by Treponema pallidum
Transmission:
Direct contact with sores (on skin or mucous membrane) usually during sexual contact
Pregnancy (congenital syphilis)
At all stages, at a higher risk of contracting HIV due to direct access through the sores
Syphilis primary and secondary stages
Primary Stage
One or multiple painless sores (chancre) at site of bacterial entry
Last 3-6 weeks and then heals (with or without treatment)
Secondary Stage
2 weeks – 6 months later
Extensive rash
Very infectious
Other: hair loss, sore throat, joint and muscle pain, fever, swollen lymph glands
Lasts several weeks; recurring symptoms for 1-2 years
Syphilis: latent and tertiary stages
Latent Stage
May last for years
Few to no symptoms
Tertiary Stage
15-30% chance
Multiple organ infection results in large tumor-like sores (gummas) on various organs
Symptoms will be depending on which organs were infected
Neurosyphilis – brain, nervous system, eye (wide range of symptoms)
Cardiovascular syphilis – damage to heart, valves, blood vessels
May be fatal
Congenital syphilis
Risk of stillborn or death shortly after birth
Untreated symptoms include: Rash Damage to eyes; deafness Teeth deformities Saddle nose (bridge of nose collapses)
Syphilis diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis
Antibody tests
Indicate infection, but not specific to treponema
Specific against bacterium
Tissue microscopy
CSF sampling (lumbar puncture) – neurosyphilis
Treatment
Antibiotics – penicillin IM
Cures infection, but does not repair damage
viral infections
Human papillomavirus (HPV) Genital herpes
HPV
fun fact
transmission
stats
Most common STD in the U.S.
Late teens/early twenties
Virus infects skin and mucous membranes
Transmission
Vaginal, oral or anal sex; skin-to-skin touching during sex
90% of people infected will be cleared within 2 years through natural immunity
