Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Question 1

Chlamydia

Answer 1

• Most frequently reported STD in the US

- 75% of all cases in 15-29 years old

Question 2

Symptoms of Chlamydia

Answer 2

• Asymptomatic: discharge, painful urination, light bleeding

- Milder chronic infection: lower ab and back pain, spotting in general and after sex

Question 3

Complications of Chlamydia

Answer 3

Women: Pelvic inflammatory disease, scarring of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy
All: Epidydimitis, infertility

Question 4

Diagnosing Chlamydia

Answer 4

Pus sample tests, vaginal discharge tests, urine analysis

Question 5

Treatment of Chlamydia

Answer 5

Azithromycin (best for pregnant women), doxycycline, erythromycin, ofloxacin (not during pregnancy), and amoxicillin

• Avoid sex and douching during treatment
• Treatment for sexual partners

Question 6

Syphilis

Answer 6

• Caused by Treponema pallidum spirochete bacteria
• “The Great Imitator” b/c of similar symptoms with other diseases
• It’s symptoms come in stages

Question 7

Primary syphilis symptoms

Answer 7

Chancre: painless open genital sore on penis or on/in vagina; but disappears with or without treatment
Penis, vaginal, cervix, hand, mouth ulcer
Very contagious
Enlarged lymph nodes all over the body, but they return to normal

Question 8

Secondary syphilis symptoms

Answer 8

*About 1/3 of untreated patients
Will progress; symptoms appear 3-6 weeks or 1-6 months after the chancre
Skin rash, small penny-sized sores (palms and soles), wart-like lumps, mouth lining rash, flu-like symptoms (very general), patchy hair loss, swollen lymph nodes throughout the body
*Intermittent symptoms makes come and go for up to 2 years
Very contagious

Question 9

Latent syphilis symptoms

Answer 9

No symptoms
Not contagious
*This or tertiary is the result of leaving the overall condition untreated

Question 10

Tertiary syphilis symptoms

Answer 10

Usually many months or years later
Less than 1/3 of cases progress to tertiary
Greatly varied symptoms depending on organs affected by syphilis; multiple non-cancerous tumors throughout the body and in organs

Question 11

Late syphilis symptoms

Answer 11

MAJOR
After severe progression of tertiary
Includes: mental illness, blindness, neurologic problems charcot joint (Painless), heart disease, and death
Also, neurosyphilis: headache, stiff neck, fever, seizures, paralysis, lightning pain

Question 12

Congenital syphilis

Answer 12

Possible and can cross via the placenta to the baby; causes delays in development, seizures, deformities, and hutchinson’s teeth

Question 13

Diagnosing Syphilis

Answer 13

Swab of chancre (primary and secondary), syphilis blood test, VDRL (venereal diseae research lab test), RPR (rapid plasma reagin test), syphilis antibody tests, CSF syphilis test for protein that doesn’t belong

Question 14

Treatment of Syphilis

Answer 14

• First Savarsan 606; but had side effects

- Then antibiotics: procaine and benzathine penicillin, doxycycline, amoxicillin

Question 15

Gonorrhea

Answer 15

Approx. 395,216 cases in 2015 in the US

Question 16

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

Answer 16

Men: very specific symptoms
Most cases develop symptoms from2-5 days after infection (up to 30 days)
Include: burning urination, white/yellow/green penile discharge, orchitis
Women: mild and non-specific symptoms
50% of cases have no symptoms
Those that do include: painful or burning urination, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleedings between periods
Both:
Rectal infection including discharge, itching, soreness, bleeding, and painful defecation

Question 17

Complications of Gonorrhea

Answer 17

Women:
PID in women who don’t know they have it and don’t get treated. Scarring of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, infertility.
Men: epidydimitis which can affect fertility

Question 18

Diagnosing Gonorrhea

Answer 18

Nucleic acid amp. tests, nucleic acid hybridization test, gonorrhea culture, gram stain, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Question 19

Treatment of Gonorrhea

Answer 19

Ofloxacin, Cefixine, Ceftriaxine

*Most people with gonorrhea also have chlamydia so antibiotics for BOTH

Question 20

Genital Herpes

Answer 20

Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus II (HSV 2) MORE THAN HSV-1

• Note: HSV-1 is more often associated with cold sores
• *Both herpes and cold sores hide in dorsal root ganglia of nerves in the dermatones of the infected areas until stimulation by stress or infection

Question 21

Is HSV-2 more common in women than in men?

Answer 21

Yes! 1 in 4 women over 1 in 8 men

Question 22

How is genital herpes spread?

Answer 22

Spread by virus coming from open sores and through skin that shows no signs of sores

Question 23

Symptoms of Herpes

Answer 23

Recurrent, painful sore, pain in the legs, buttocks or genital area

Question 24

Does herpes have recurrent outbreaks?

Answer 24

Yes!

• The first is the most pronounced, the extends to 4 or 5 outbreaks in that 1st year
• Most people have sores or have very mild signs that makes it easier to be spread again

Question 25

Diagnosing Herpes

Answer 25

Visual inspection of lesions, lab testing of material from a sore, blood test to detect HSV antibodies

Question 26

Treatment of Herpes

Answer 26

*NO medication can cure, BUT they SHORTEN OUTBREAKS and REDUCE THEIR INTENSITY/FREQUENCY Meds include: acyclovir (zovirax), famcyclovir (famvir), valcyclovir (valtrex)

Question 27

Genital warts (Condyloma acuminata)

Answer 27

Caused by HPV! Most common STI. Over 100 strains of HPV and only 9 are cancer causing. Infects the genital areas including skin of the penis, vulva, and LININGS of vagina, cervix, and rectum

Question 28

"Low-risk" HPV

Answer 28

Wart causing Symptoms: warts appearing within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person.. or may not appear at all, left untreated -> may go away, increase, or not change BUT WON'T BECOME CANCER

Question 29

"High-risk" HPV

Answer 29

Cancer causing; 9 of the 100 types Cervical cancer and other cancers don't have symptoms till late in the infection and manifestation.. making them a large problem and sometimes fatal

Question 30

Symptoms/Signs of Genital Warts

Answer 30

Small bumps, raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, sometimes soft, moist, flesh-colored, can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix or male counterpart genitalia

Question 31

Diagnosing Genital Warts

Answer 31

Visual inspection and history of sexual activity

Question 32

Treating Genital Warts

Answer 32

None for the virus, but a healthy immune system to fight it off naturally *Treatments DON'T CURE but interfere with the viral replication

Question 33

Trichomoniasis

Answer 33

A common cause of vaginitis - Its protozoa (Trichomonas vaginalis) produce mechanical stress on vaginal cells and then ingest cell fragments after death of the cells - Most common site of infection is the urethra and vagina in young, sexually active women * Most common and curable STD for these women

Question 34

Symptoms of Trichomoniasis

Answer 34

Cervicitis, urethritis, vaginitis, itching, burning, discomfort during intercourse and urination, possible reduction in vaginal elasticity **VERY SPECIFIC: yellow-green, itchy, foul-smelling discharge

Question 35

Diagnosing Trichomoniasis

Answer 35

Usually done by observing, under a microscope, trichomonads collected during an exam

Question 36

Treatment of Trichomoniasis

Answer 36

Metronidazole AKA "Flagyl"; treat sexual partners b/c they could be carriers

Question 37

Why is trichomoniasis associated with an increased risk of HIV and cervical cancer?

Answer 37

The creatures attack the cells and destroy the lining of the vagina; this makes the vagina more raw and susceptible to infection

Question 38

Why is trichomoniasis associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in men?

Answer 38

There is speculation of increase of prostate cancer for men dating women with trichomoniasis