Sexually Transmitted Infections STIs or STDs Infections that

Sexually Transmitted Infections

STI’s or STD’s • Infections that are spread from person to person through sexual contact • There are more than 25 known STI’s, many of which are difficult to track bc ppl who have them do not exhibit symptoms • Other cases are not reported bc ppl do not seek treatment due to shame, fear, or ignorance

Widespread among teens • Approx 15 million ppl contract 1 or more STI’s every year, ¼ of these new cases are in teens • Currently > 65 million have incurable STI • Y? many STI’s have no symptoms or don’t ever show up, others have a lengthy delay b/t infection and symptoms

Sexually Active Teens at a higher risk bc • Engaging in Sexual acts w/o protection • Using alcohol or other drugs bc they cause inhibitions to lower • Being sexually active with more than one person at a time or over time • Choosing high-risk partners who have a history of being sexually active

More reasons… • Choosing a high-risk partner who have a history of Intravenous Drug Use • Choosing a partner who seems to be low risk but really isn't

Most common STI’s in US • Human Papillomavirus, HPV – a virus that causes genital warts and warts on other parts of the body • Believed to be the most commonly contracted of all the STI’s • Many cases go unreported & unnoticed, approx 5. 5 million ppl contract ea. Year • Approx 20 million already have it

HPV cont’d • Most easily recognized symptom is genital warts (venereal warts) are soft, moist, pink or red • • • swellings that appear on the genitals Grow in clusters spread into large masses Over 100 types of HPV, 30 of which are transmitted thru oral, anal, & vaginal sexual contact Certain types linked to cervical cancer, including some which are associated with cancers of the vulva, penis and anus

HPV found in • Females – if present genital warts are found on the vulva, in the vagina, on the cervix, or around the anus • Males – if present genital warts are found on the penis, scrotum, groin, thigh or around the anus • Genital warts found only rarely in the mouth or throat

HPV • Commonly diagnosed by an exam of genital warts • May disappear by themselves, or removed by laser, being frozen, burned or cut off • Doesn’t eliminate the virus, however • Will recur AND the virus remains in the body for life

Chlamydia • An STI that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis • Most commonly reported bacterial STI in US, & most commonly reported infectious disease • Approx 2 million curr. infected, 3 million become infected ea. year • 40 % of reported cases ppl 15 -19 yrs old

MORE Chlamydia • Despite being easily cured, one of the most dangerous, bc it easily goes undiagnosed • 75% of women, n 50% of male with it have NO symptoms, but can spread it • If symptoms do occur, usually appear within 1 -3 weeks of sexual contact with an infected person

Diagnosis of Chlamydia • Made by testing a specimen collected from infected site for bacteria • More recent test involves checking a urine sample for bacteria • If diagnosed with Chlamydia, antibiotics can easily CURE the infection

Chlamydia symptoms • Females – early stages small % develop an abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating • Males – may have a discharge from the penis and a burning sensation when urinating • 40 % of females with untreated Chlamydia will develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease • PID – a painful infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries • Permanent damage to these structures can result, along with severe pelvic pain, infertility, and increased likelihood of ectopic pregnancy • 3 -5 times as likely to be infected with HIV if exposed to it, if you have an active Chlamydia infection

Gonorrhea • An STI caused by bacterium Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, a bacteria that live in warm, moist areas of the body. • 650, 000 reported new cases each year, it is an extremely common infectious disease

Gonorrhea • Teens & young adults have the highest • • • incidences of gonorrhea Females ages 15 -19 highest reported rate Males ages 20 -24 highest reported rate Thrives in mucous membranes of the cervix, uterus & fallopian tubes in females, the urethra in females & males; & also in the mouth, throat, and anus in females and males

Gonorrhea symptoms • Most males will show some signs when infected • Usually appear 2 - 5 days after infection, but can also take up to 30 days • Burning sensation when urinating, yellowish-white discharge from penis, sometimes painful or swollen testicles

Gonorrhea symptoms • Females it can go unnoticed bc rarely show symptoms • Early symptoms go unnoticed bc they are mild and mistaken for something else • Burning sensation when urinating, yellow vaginal discharge that may be tinged with blood

Gonorrhea symptoms • Rectal infection – anal discharge, itching, soreness, and bleeding, as well as painful bowel movements – MALE & FEMALE • Throat infections causes few symptoms • If untreated can lead to PID in females, and epididymitis in males – inflammation of the testes – can cause sterility • Treated with antibiotics

Herpes • 2 types – simplex type 1 & simplex type 2 • HSV-1 causes cold sores – blisters on the mouth and lips of infected ppl. • HSV-2 causes genital herpes

HSV-1 • Very common n the US, but Not considered a STI • Virus can e spread thru saliva to another person when lesions are present • HSV-1 infection can occur on the genitals following oral-genital contact with a person who has a cold sore

HSV-2 • 45 million ppl. in US curr. infected - 1 million new cases each year • 1 in 4 females and 1 in 5 males have the virus • The # of teens and young adults with HSV-2 is increasing dramatically • Spread from open sores during sexual contact, but it also can be released when lesions are not present

HSV-2 • Person with frequently has no symptoms • If they do occur, it is usually within two weeks of exposure to the virus and consists of an outbreak of blisters on or around the genitals or rectum • Some may get a fever or swollen glands • After blisters break, painful lesions remain and may take 2 -4 weeks to heal

HSV-2 • Within a few weeks another outbreak may occur, • • • usually less severe than the 1 st May have 4 -5 episodes in the first year, and the fewer as the years go by Once you contract HSV-2, you have it for the remainder of your life Are antiviral medications to control the duration and severity of episodes, but not rid the body of the virus

HSV-1 & HSV-2 • Anyone who has an active episode of either virus should avoid touching the lesion; careful personal hygiene, including hand-washing, does help in preventing the spread of herpes to other ppl and other areas of one’s body

Hepatitis B • HBV is a viral STI that attacks the liver and can cause extreme illness and death • Transmitted when blood or other body fluids • • from an infected person enter the body of another Spread through sexual activity as well, drug users who share needles from an infected person Tattoo's or body piercings‘ where instruments are not sterilized or inks are used over

Hepatitis B symptoms • Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, joint pain & loss of appetite • Can be treated with drugs-effective in 40% of individuals • Vaccine available since 1982, given to children from birth to 18

Hepatitis C • Virus, blood-borne infection • Can lead to chronic liver disease, liver cancer, & liver failure • Asymptomatic – progresses slowly • Transmitted thru sexual contact and any direct contact with contaminated blood • NO CURE for hepatitis C

Syphilis • STI caused by the bacterium Treponema Pallidum, and it progresses in stages • Spread by direct contact with a chancre, a painless sore that appears early, or with the infectious rash that appears later • Transmitted thru sexual activity

Stages of Syphilis • Untreated syphilis progresses thru 3 stages • Primary stage - 10 -90 days after infection – a small, firm, round sore called a chancre appears where bacterium entered the body • Sore is painless & lasts 3 -6 weeks can disappear without treatment

Stages of Syphilis • Secondary stage – an infectious rash of rough, red or reddish-brown spots appears on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet • Flulike symptoms, hair loss, & weight loss can occur. • Rash can disappear without treatment

Stages of Syphilis • Late Stage – organism last in the body, damaging organs including brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, & joints • Symptoms include loss of muscle coordination, paralysis, blindness, and dementia. • Can lead to death

Diagnosis of Syphilis • Blood test or laboratory exam of material from primary chancre or secondary rash • Easily cured with antibiotics – but once damage to internal organs occurs, there is no way to repair the damage

Vaginitis • Many types of vaginitis, inflammation of the vagina caused by various organisms • Only 2 however are transmitted sexually, both infections are treated with the prescription drug metronidazole • Trichomonasis and Bacterial Vaginosis

Trichomonasis • An STI caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, affects both males and females • Infected males – rarely have symptoms – irritation inside the penis, mild discharge, or slight burning after urinating or ejaculation

Trichomonasis • Infected females – 5 -28 days after exposure symptoms appear – foamy, yellow-green vaginal discharge with a strong odor, can also cause genital irritation & itching, and discomfort during intercourse & urination

Bacterial Vaginosis - BV • An STI caused by an imbalance of bacteria normally found in the vagina – affects only females • Little is known about the cause, but having intercourse with a new partner and douching may be contributing factors

Bacterial Vaginosis - BV • Symptoms, when present include white or gray vagina discharge with a strong odor as well as itching and burning around the vagina • BV increases risk of gonorrhea may lead to PID

Pubic Lice • Also known as “crabs” tiny parasitic insects that infest in the genital area of humans. • Spread thru sexual contact, and in rare circumstances from infested bed linens, towels, and clothing since lice can live for a short time away from their host

Symptoms of Pubic Lice • Main – intense itching • Usually live in pubic hair but can also live in the coarse hair of legs, armpits, mustaches, beards, eyebrows, and eyelashes • Lice that infect a persons head are NOT pubic lice

Treatment of Pubic Lice • Medicated shampoos OTC and Dr. ’s Prescription • Shampoos are harsh and should not be used on eyebrows or eyelashes – have a special ointment that will not damage the eyes by prescription only

Scabies • An STI infestation of the skin with microscopic mites called Sarcoptes Scabiei • Spread thru sharing of infested bedding & clothing and thru prolonged skin-2 -skin contact • CAN NOT be transmitted by shaking someone’s hand

Symptoms of Scabies • Appear 4 -6 weeks after contact, a pimplelike • • • rash, particularly b/t fingers and in skin folds on the body Also on the penis, breast, and shoulder blades Rash causes severe itching, sores can be infected from scratching Fewer than 10 mites are usually present on an infected person, making diagnosis difficult

Treatment of Scabies • Special lotions are available and everyone living in the same household as the infected person should get treatment as well at the same time

General Treatment of STI’s • Follow Dr. ’s orders for treatment and finish all medication prescribed. Never stop taking med’s bc symptoms went away • Notify everyone with whom he or she has had sexual contact • Remember that abstinence only 100% effective