Common STDs and the Organisms That Cause Them

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, called opportunistic infections,
and to certain forms of cancer.

Transmission of the virus primarily occurs during sexual

activity and by sharing needles used to inject
intravenous drugs.

Chancroid
Chancroid ("SHAN-kroid") is an important bacterial
infection caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, which is
spread by sexual contact.

Periodic outbreaks of chancroid have occurred in the

United States, the last one being in the late 1980s.
These outbreaks are usually seen in minority
populations in the inner cities, especially in the southern
and eastern portion of the country. Globally, this
disease is common in sub-Saharan Africa among men
who have frequent contact with prostitutes.

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.

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.
Chlamydia
Chlamydial ("kla-MID-ee-uhl") infection is the most
common bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) in
the United States today.

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.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious

complication of chlamydial infection, has emerged as a
major cause of infertility among women of childbearing age.

Genital Herpes/HSV
Genital herpes is a contagious viral infection that affects
an estimated one out of four (or 45 million) Americans.

The infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus

(HSV).

There are two types of HSV, and both can cause genital
herpes.

1. HSV type 1 most commonly causes sores on the lips

(known as fever blisters or cold sores), but it can cause
genital infections as well.

2. HSV type 2 most often causes genital sores, but it

also can infect the mouth.

Both HSV 1 and 2 can produce sores in and around the vaginal area, on the penis, around the anal
opening, and on the buttocks or thighs.

Occasionally, sores also appear on other parts of the body where broken skin has come into contact with
HSV.

The virus remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, causing periodic symptoms in some people.

Genital herpes infection usually is acquired by sexual contact with someone who unknowingly is having an
asymptomatic outbreak of herpes sores in the genital area.

People with oral herpes can transmit the infection to the genital area of a partner during oral-genital sex.
Herpes infections also can be transmitted by a person who is infected with HSV who has noticeable
symptoms. The virus is spread only rarely, if at all, by contact with objects such as a toilet seat or hot tub.

Genital Warts/HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most
common causes of sexually transmitted disease
(STD) in the world.

More than 60 types of HPV have been identified by

scientists.

Some types of the virus cause common skin warts.

About one-third of the HPV types is spread through

sexual contact and lives only in genital tissue.

Low-risk types of HPV cause genital warts, the most

recognizable sign of genital HPV infection. Other high-risk types of HPV cause cervical cancer and other
genital cancers.

Like many sexually transmitted organisms, HPV usually causes a silent infection—that is, one that does not
have visible symptoms. Because the viral infection persists, individuals may not be aware of their infection
or the potential risk of transmission to others and of developing complications.

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 and complications include PID, ectopic
pregnancy, and infertility.

Historically, penicillin has been used to treat

gonorrhea, but in the last decade, four types of
antibiotic resistance have emerged.

New antibiotics or combinations of drugs must be

used to treat these resistant strains.
Syphilis
Syphilis is caused by Treponema Pallidum; the first
symptoms of infection may go undetected because
they are very mild and disappear spontaneously.

The initial symptom is a chancre; it 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.

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, mostly among men who have sex with men
(MSM).

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an STD

with severe complications, including chronic
hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver carcinoma.

Of approximately 200,000 new HBV infections

in the United States each year, approximately
half are transmitted through sexual intercourse.

Hepatitis C virus, the most common cause of

non-A non-B hepatitis, causes chronic liver
disease in most infected adults.

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.

At present, there are no specific treatments for the acute symptoms of viral hepatitis.

Doctors recommend bed rest, a healthy diet, and avoidance of alcoholic beverages.
 A genetically engineered form of a naturally occurring protein, interferon alpha, is used to treat
people with chronic hepatitis C.

Trichomoniasis
- caused by infection with the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis,
- causes burning, itching, and discomfort in the vagina in women and the urethra in men. - -
Trichomoniasis is easily treated with a single dose of antibiotics.

Bacterial vaginosis

- vaginal infection causing grayish discharge:

- a common vaginal infection that causes a grayish discharge without irritation and often a slightly
fishy odor in the presence of alkali.
- It is caused by the organism Gardnerella vaginalis.

How do S.T.D’s affect a pregnant woman and her baby?

STDs can cause:

a. cervical and other cancers

b. chronic hepatitis
c. pelvic inflammatory disease
d. infertility, and other complications.

Many STDs in women are silent; that is, without signs or symptoms.

A pregnant woman with an STD may also have:

a. early onset of labor

b. premature rupture of the membranes surrounding the baby in the uterus

c. uterine infection after delivery

STDs can be passed from a pregnant woman to the baby before, during, or after the baby's birth.

Some STDs (like syphilis) cross the placenta and infect the baby while it is in the uterus (womb).

Other STDs (like gonorrhea, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and genital herpes) can be transmitted from the
mother to the baby during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal.
HIV can cross the placenta during pregnancy, infect the baby during the birth process, and unlike most
other STDs, can infect the baby through breastfeeding.

The harmful effects of STDs in babies may include:

a. stillbirth (a baby that is born dead)

b. low birth weight (less than five pounds)
c. conjunctivitis (eye infection)
d. pneumonia
e. neonatal sepsis (infection in the baby's blood stream)
f. neurologic damage (such as brain damage or lack of coordination in body movements)
g. blindness
h. deafness
i. acute hepatitis
j. meningitis
k. chronic liver disease

Some of these problems can be prevented:

a. if the mother receives routine prenatal care which includes screening tests for STDs starting
early in pregnancy and repeated close to delivery, if necessary.
b. Other problems can be treated if the infection is found at birth.

Treatment

1. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomonas, and bacterial vaginosis (BV) can be treated and cured
with antibiotics during pregnancy.

2. There is no cure for viral STDs, such as genital herpes and HIV, but antiviral medication for herpes and
HIV may reduce symptoms in the pregnant woman.

NOTE:

a. Active genital herpes lesions at the time of delivery, a cesarean delivery (C-section) may be performed
to protect the newborn against infection.

b. C-section is also an option for some HIV-infected women.

c. Women who test negative for hepatitis B, may receive the hepatitis B vaccine during pregnancy.

How can pregnant women protect themselves against infection?

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to:

a. abstain from sexual contact

b. long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known
to be uninfected.
c. Latex condoms