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What is STD?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect men
and women of all backgrounds and economic levels.
The most prominent STD is HIV. However, many other
STDs affect millions of men and women each year.
Many of these STDs initially does not cause symptoms,
especially in women. Most of the time symptoms,
which are been developed, may confuse with other
diseases that are not transmitted through sexual
contact. STDs can be transmitted person to person
even if they do not show symptoms. Also, health
problems caused by are more in women than for
men.
Some Common STDs are
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) was
first reported in the United States in 1981. It
is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), a virus that destroys the body's ability
to fight off infection. People who have AIDS are
very susceptible to many life-threatening diseases
and to certain forms of cancer. Transmission of
the virus primarily occurs during sexual activity
and by sharing needles.
Chlamydia
Chlamydial ("kla-MID-ee-uhl") infection is the
most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease
(STD).
Chlamydial infection is caused by a bacterium,
Chlamydia trachomatis, and can be transmitted
during vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact with
an infected partner. A pregnant woman may pass
the infection to her newborn during delivery,
with subsequent neonatal eye infection or pneumonia.
Chancroid
Chancroid ("SHAN-kroid") is an important bacterial
infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, which
is spread by sexual contact.
The infection begins with the appearance of painful
open sores on the genitals, sometimes accompanied
by swollen, tender lymph nodes in the groin. These
symptoms occur within a week after exposure. Symptoms
in women are often less noticeable and may be
limited to painful urination or defecation, painful
intercourse, rectal bleeding, or vaginal discharge.
Chancroid lesions may be difficult to distinguish
from ulcers caused by genital herpes or syphilis.
A physician must therefore diagnose the infection
by excluding other diseases with similar symptoms.
People with chancroid can be treated effectively
with one of several antibiotics. Chancroid is
one of the genital ulcer diseases that may be
associated with an increased risk of transmission
of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the
cause of AIDS.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria Gonorrhoeae.
The most common symptoms of infection are a discharge
from the vagina or penis and painful or difficult
urination. The most common and serious complications
occur in women.
Earlier penicillin has been used to treat gonorrhea,
but in the last decade, some antibiotic resistance
have emerged. New antibiotics or combinations
of drugs must be used to treat these resistant
strains.
Syphilis
Treponema Pallidum causes syphilis. The first
symptoms of infection may go undetected because
they are very mild and disappear. The initial
symptom is usually a painless open sore that usually
appears on the penis or around or in the vagina.
It can also occur near the mouth, anus, or on
the hands. If untreated, syphilis may go on to
more advanced stages, including a transient rash
and, eventually, serious involvement of the heart
and central nervous system. The full course of
the disease can take years. Penicillin remains
the most effective drug to treat people with syphilis.
Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis A is a cause of acute hepatitis.
Fewer than 5 percent of infections are transmitted
through fecal-oral contact during sexual intercourse.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an
STD with severe complications including chronic
hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver carcinoma.
Hepatitis C virus, the most common cause
of non-A non-B hepatitis, causes chronic liver
disease in most infected adults. The efficiency
of sexual and perinatal transmission of this virus,
however, is much less than that for HBV or HIV.
Hepatitis D (delta) virus is a virus that
can be sexually transmitted but requires the presence
of hepatitis B virus to replicate. Although hepatitis
D virus can be transmitted sexually, it is less
efficiently transmitted through sexual intercourse
compared to HBV.
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