STDs 2 Flashcards
Gonorrhea
bacteria: neisseria gonorrohoeae
- lives in submucosal tissues (urethra, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, rectum, throat)
- “clap”, “drip” or GC
transmission of Gonorrhea
- semen, vaginal, or bacteria in pus
- vaginal, anal, oral sex
- mother to infant during vaginal childbirth
s/s of Gonorrhea
- 50% asymptomatic in F
- 10% asymptomatic in M
- symptoms are the same as Chlamydia, but more sudden
- rectal infection: possible discharge, bleeding, or pain while pooping
- throat infection: mild sore throat & redness
- conjunctivitis
female s/s of Gonorrhea
- mostly infects the cervix
- increased discharge, vulva irritation
- yellow discharge on cervical exam, redness to cervix, & easily bleeds when swabbed
- dysuria, bleeding within periods, lower abd pain & fever
male s/s of Gonorrhea
mostly infects urethra
- dysuria
- white, yellow, possibly greenish discharge = thicker & greater than Chlamydia
complications of Gonorrhea in females
- PID
- Bartholin’s & Skene’s glands infection
- increased risk of spontaneous abortion, premature labor, early rupture of fetal membranes, gonococcal conjunctivitis, rectal infections in newborns, systemic illness with arthritis in newborns
complications of Gonorrhea in males
- epididymitis
- penile edema
complications of Gonorrhea in adults
disseminated gonococcal infection (skin lesions, arthritis/joint pain)
diagnosing Gonorrhea
- ligase chain reaction (done on urine samples)
- cell culture (additional tests need to be done if sample is from throat)
tx of Gonorrhea
- cephalosporins
- drug resistance to penicillin may be an issue
- drug resistance in CA to fluroquinolones
Syphilis
- bacteria: Treponema pallidum
- spirochete
- high rates in Caucasians & Latinos
Syphilis-HIV connection
- ulcerative STD: causes chancres which can be portals of entry for HIV
- co infection with Syphilis increases ability to transmit HIV
transmission of Syphilis
- infected skin or mucous membrane via the rubbing & friction during sex
- NOT passed through body fluids
- can be passed through vaginal, anal, & oral sex
primary Syphilis
- chancre appears: painless sore to site of entry
- very infectious, chancres full of bacteria
- lasts 2-6 wks
secondary Syphilis
- appears about 6 wks after chancre appears
- most common symptom: skin rash usually to torso, palms of hands, or bottoms of feet
- other s/s: round gray mucous patches in mouth & throat, patchy loss of hair, mild fever, fatigue
- symptoms can come & go for about 1 year
early latent Syphilis
- one year of less from date of infection
- may still be infectious to sex partners & women can pass to fetus
late latent Syphilis
- more than one year since date of infection
- no symptoms
- no longer infectious
- 1/3 will develop serious complications
tertiary/late Syphilis
- usually occurs long after infection
- “gumma”: large ulcers of the skin, bones, soft tissue nodular lesions & other internal tissues
complications of congenital Syphilis
- stillborns
- nasal discharge
- rashes
- skin sores
- perm. brain & nerve dmg
- bone & palate deformities
diagnosing Syphilis
- non-treponemal screening: tests antibodies for tissue dmg
- treponemal screening: tests directly for Syphilis antibodies
- dark field microscope ** gold standard
- spinal fluid exam to diagnose neurosyphilis
tx of Syphilis
- easily curable
- benzathine penicillin G
- doxycycline or tetracycline
- once treated, the disease is stopped & dmg no longer continue
- dmg already done in later stages is not reversible
prevention of Syphilis
- avoid direct contact with chancres & rashes
- use latex barriers, less effective in skin-to-skin transmission
- talk to sex partner about STBs, limit # of partners
