ADVERTISEMENTS:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are diseases or infections transmitted to healthy males or females due to sexual intercourse with infected persons.
The sexually transmitted diseases are otherwise known as veneral diseases (VD) or reproductive tract infections (RTI).
Most common STDs are gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydiasis, genital warts, trichomoniasis, hepatitis- B and AIDs. Except for HIV infections, hepatitis B and genital herpes, other STDs are completely curable if detected early and treated properly. Infections like hepatitis-B and HIV are not only transmitted sexually but also by sharing of injection needles with infected persons, blood transfusion or from infected mother to foetus.
Symptoms:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Early symptoms of STDs are itching, fluid discharge, and slight pain swellings in genital regions. Infected females usually do not show any symptoms for a long time and therefore remain undetected. This can lead to severe complications later which include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), abortions, still births, ectopic pregnancies, infertility or even cancer of the reproductive tract.
Prevention:
Under the reproductive health care programmes, prevention, early detection and cure of STDs are given priority. Though all persons are vulnerable to these infections, their incidences are reported to be very high among persons in the age group of 15 to 24 years.
STDs can be prevented by taking following precautions:
1. Sex should be avoided with unknown partners or multiple partners.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
2. During sexual intercourse, condoms should be used.
3. In case of doubt, one should go to a qualified doctor for early detection and proper treatment.
Types of STDs:
1. Bacterial STDs:
The following three types are common:
(i) Syphilis:
The causative pathogen is Treponema pallidium. The first stage of the disease has symptoms like infections and painless ulcers on the genitals, swelling of lymph glands. In the second stage there are skin lesions, rashes, hair loss, swollen joints etc. In the later stage, chronic ulcers appear on palate, nose or lower leg.
There can be paralysis, brain damage, blindness, heart trouble etc. The incubation period is 10 to 90 days. The disease is curable through appropriate antibiotics like penicillin and tetracyclin.
(ii) Gonorrhoea:
The causative pathogen is Neisseria gonorrhoea. The bacteria lives in genital tubes and produces pus containing discharge pain around genitalia and burning sensation during urination. Incubation period is 2 to 5 days. It can be treated with appropriate antibiotics like penicillin and ampicillin.
(iii) Chancroid:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The causative bacterium is Haemophilus ducreyi. In this infection ulcer appears over the external genitalia which is painful and bleeding with swelling of nearby lymph nodes. It can be treated with antibiotics.
2. Viral STDs:
(i) AIDS:
The caustive virus is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The symptoms of AIDS are continued fever, lethargy, weight loss, nausia, headache, rashes, pharyngitis etc. Due to loss of immunity, the body is unable to protect itself against any type of infection. The disease can be diagnosed by Western Blotting and ELISA tests. The incubation period is 6 months to 10 years. So far, there is no cure, but certain drugs can prolong the life of AIDS patients which are Zidovudine or Azidothymidine (AZT), Didanosine etc.
(ii) Hepatitis B:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The causative virus is Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). The symptoms of the disease are fatigue, jaundice, persistent low fever, rash and abdominal pain. At a later stage there is liver cirrhosis and possibly liver cancer, it can be dignosed by Austrelian antigen test and ELISA. The incubation period is’30-80 days, it is incurable. Hepatitis C and Hepatitis D are also STDs.
(iii) Genital herpes:
The causative virus is Herpes simplex virus. In this disease there are vesiculopustular lesions followed by clusters of painful erythematous ulcers over external genitalia and perianal regions. Symptoms are more severe in females. There is fever, headache, pain, and itching, vaginal and urethral discharge with swelling of lymph nodes. It is also an incurable STD.
(iv) Genital Warts:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The causative virus is Human Pipilloma virus (HPV). These are hard outgrowths developing on the outer surface of external venitalia and perianal area. In women infection may enter vagina and cervix. It spreads through sexual intercourse with carriers of this virus. Cryosurgery is used for removal of the warts.
3. STDs caused by Chlamydiae:
Chlamydiae is a bacterial class whose members are obligate intracellular pathogens. The following STDs are caused by chlamydiae.
(i) Chlamydiasis:
The causative bacteria are chlamydia trachomatis. This is a human pathogen that causes trachoma, sexually transmitted and perinatal infection. It causes urethritis epididymitis, cervicitis, inflamation of fallopian tubes, proctitis. The disease is transmitted by sexual contact with infected mating partner. The incubation period is about one week. Antibiotics like tetracycline, erythromycin and rifampacin are effective medicines.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(ii) Lymphogranuloma Venereum:
The causative bacterium is chlamydia trachomantis of L1, L2, L3 serotype. It is a sexually transmitted infection usually of warm climate. The disease consists of a primary cutaneous or mucosal genital lesion, urithritis or endocervicitis. Locally destructive ulcerations, rectal strictures and genital elephantiasis also occur.
4. Protozoan STDs:
(i) Trichomoniasis:
The causative protozoan is Trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite infects both males and females. In females it causes vaginitis with foul odour, yellow vaginal discharge and burning sensation. In males it causes urethritis, epididymitis and prostatitis resulting in pain and burning sensation. The disease is transmitted through sexual intercourse. The disease is treated with metronidazole.
5. Fungal STDs.
(i) Candidiasis:
The causative organism is vaginal yeast, Candida albicans. The pathogen is found in mouth, colon and vagina. In case of vaginal infection, the women experience painful inflammation with thick cheesy discharge. Males may develop painful inflammation of urethra through sexual contact with infected woman. Antibiotics like clotrimazole, miconazole and nystatin can cure the infection.
