STI/STD Flashcards
pubic lice (crabs)
- transmission: by direct body contact or shared bedding, clothing, towels, etc., may also spread to other hairy areas of the skin
- Symptoms/complications: itching, any damage done by scratching, may be able to see “nits”, pubic lice eggs
-Additional info: treated by topical lotions or shampoos, shaving off affected area, must wash towels, sheets, and clothes
Scabies (scabies mite)
-transmission: can be passed by close physical contact (sexual and nonsexual), easily passed in crowded sections
- symptoms/complications: itching, rash(may disrupt sleep), visible reddish tracks, spots or pustules
-Additional info: mites are not usually seen , may be found in hairless areas, treated by topical lotion or cream, possibly infested items must be washed and dried
Trichomoniasis
-Transmission: usually passed through sexual contact, spread through semen, pre-cum, or vaginal fluids
- symptoms/complications: Men(usually asymptomatic): slight discharge from urethra, frequent/ painful urination Women(possible asymptomatic): foul smelling/ frothy/greenish vaginal discharge, abdominal discomfort, vaginal itchiness/redness, urge to urinate frequently
-Additional info: infected persons’ partner should be treated at the same time wether asymptomatic or not, can pass it back and forth between partners, treated by oral Flagyl
Syphilis
-transmission: spread by direct contact (nearly always sexual), mother to fetus
-symptoms/complications: primary: ulcer at site of infection(starts as red bumps then becomes sores or ulcer) secondary: painless rash (may effect palms & soles of feet), fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle pain tertiary syphilis: large ulcers may appear on skin or internal organs, organ damage
-additional info: ulcer may transmit HIV, in latent phase, person is no longer infectious to partners, tertiary syphilis occurs in about 15% of cases, treated by injected Penicillin, though there is an effective antibiotic treatment, syphilis has still managed to resist elimination
Gonorrhea
-transmission: sexual contact (oral and anal too)
- symptoms/complications: men(may be asymptomatic): thick discharge of pus from urethra, burning during urination, epididymis, women(may be asymptomatic): yellow, or bloody vaginal discharge, bleeding during sex, burning during urination, may cause PID, rectal discharge, anal itching, painful bloody bowel movements in both M and W
- additional info: very common, babies can be infected, which usually happens in the eyes and during the birth process, treated with oral antibiotics
Chlamydia
-transmission: sexual contact (can be spread to mouth and throat), women to infant during childbirth
-symptoms/complications: men(may be asymptomatic): thin urethral or anal discharge, burning during urination, epididymis, prostatitis, women(often asymptomatic): thin vaginal or anal discharge, painful urination, can cause PID which may lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy
-additional info: relatively new, now the most common of all reportable infectious diseases, can occur in the mouth, throat or rectum, treated w oral antibiotics
Herpes
-transmission: sexual or nonsexual contact, HSV 1:(oral herpes, “fever blisters,” “cold sores”)- passed primarily through kissing and oral sex , HSV 2: (genital herpes)- passed primarily through genital contact, including oral and anal sex, HSV 1 can be located on the genitals, and vice versa
-symptoms/complications: recurrent breakouts of blisters or fissures localized at the site of infection, may be painful(can also be painless or mildly itchy), reddish, slightly elevated spots or clusters of spots, fever, swollen lymph nodes, can increase risk of cervical cancer
- Additional info: most common STD in the US, can spread to other parts of body(eyes via fingers), treated by oral antivirals, Valtrex, not curable though treatment may reduce outbreaks, easily transfer virus to partners during outbreaks, transmission between outbreaks is also possible, can transmit to child during birth process, majority of people infected don’t know it
Genital Warts (HPV type 6 or 11)
-transmission: primarily through sexual contact(including oral and anal sex)
-symptoms/complications: soft pink bumps/cauliflower type growths, genital or anal warts, cancer of external genitalia(rare), may be asymptomatic)
-additional info: removal of warts by freezing, but not HPV , HPV infection is a cause of cancers of the mouth, throat, and vulva, estimated 50-75% of sexually active become infected
precancerous changes in cervix or anus (other HPV types)
-transmission: primarily through sexual contact (including oral and anal sex)
-symptoms/complications: (usually asymptomatic): none at early stages, can cause cervical and anal cancer
-additional info: vaccine against types 16 & 18 (Gardasil)
Hepatitis A
-transmission: sexual contact(including oral and anal sex), contaminated food and water
-symptoms/complications: jaundice, fever, malaise, tenderness and swelling of the liver, most people recover, chronic hepatitis & liver problems (cancer, failure and cirrhosis)
-additional info: no specific treatment for acute infection; several oral antivirals available for chronic hepatitis, vaccines available, 2 shots can protect you
Hepatitis B
-transmission: sexual contact(including oral and anal sex), contact with contaminated blood(sharing needles)
-symptoms/complications: jaundice, fever, malaise, tenderness and swelling of the liver, most people recover, chronic hepatitis & liver problems (cancer, failure and cirrhosis)
-additional info: no specific treatment for acute infection; several oral antivirals available for chronic hepatitis, vaccines available, 3 shots can protect you
HIV/AIDS
-transmission: sexual contact (especially, P/V and anal sex; oral sex is less common), contaminated blood (needles, transfusions), mother to fetus & breastfeeding, virus can be found in semen, blood, vaginal secretions, tears, breast milk
- Symptoms/complications: acute flu like illness, symptoms vary, after latent period, opportunistic infections, cervical cancer, lymphoma, wasting
- Additional info: not curable, combo of several oral antiviral drugs (HAART), death not caused by HIV but rather the opportunistic infections as a result of a failed immune system, young gay and bisexual men are particularly at risk, w/o treatment ppl with AIDS typically survive less than a year before succumbing to complications