1) What are Sexually-Transmitted Diseases?
2) How are the many STDs (Sexually-Transmitted Diseases) transmitted?


WHAT ARE SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES?

The sexually-transmitted diseases (STD) are diseases acquired through several types of agents. They are transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse, without the use of condoms, with an infected person and usually they occur due to wounds, vaginal discharge, blisters or warts.

Some STDs are easily treatable and are quickly eliminated. Others, however, are more difficult to be treated or can remain active in spite of the improvement sensation reported by patients. In general, women must remain very careful since in many STD's cases it is not easy to distinguish the common organic reaction symptoms of their bodies. The STDs are one of the main facilitator factors of the sexual transmission of AIDS virus, since wounds in the genital organs make the HIV entrance very easy.

The use of condoms in all sexual intercourses is the most effective method of reducing transmission risk, both of STDs and AIDS virus.

Other infection ways

An infected mother can also transmit some STDs to the baby during pregnancy or labor and delivery. Thus, these STDs can cause pregnancy miscarriage or abortion, or damage to the baby.

Others STDs can also be transmitted through contaminated blood transfusion or syringe and needle sharing, mainly in case of injectable drug use.

• Gonorrhoea • Syphilis • Chancroid • Lymphogranuloma Venereum • Donovanosis

• Genital herpes • Condylomata accuminata (genital warts) • Trichomoniasis • Candidosis • Non-Gonococcal Urethritis

• Hepatitis A and B • Pityriasis versicolor • Scabies • Pediculosis • AIDS

HOW ARE THE MANY STDS (SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES) TRANSMITTED?

SYPHILIS

Syphilis origin agent is the bacterium, Treponema pallidum.

Syphilis, also known as "French Disease", starts as a minor lesion (small wound) in the genital organ (penis, vulva, vagina, uterine colon) that is painless; usually it is a single wound and appears within 20 to 30 days as consequence of a contaminated sexual intercourse. This small lesion is called Hard Chancre and heals spontaneously after 1 month. After approximately 10 days from the Hard Chancre appearance, the inguinal buboes that had appeared vanish although they are not treated. During sometime (30 days) there are not any manifestations until some red spots appear on skin, similar to skin rash, only that they do not itch. Then the disease goes into the next stage with eventual manifestations on the skin and mucous membrane, mainly in the genital organs. After 1 to 2 years, the disease goes into latent stage (without any body manifestations). After this period, the disease may go into late stage, with heart and brain lesions. The disease only evolves if there isn’t an adequate treatment.

Syphilis can be transmitted from one person to another through sexual intercourse (without condoms), contaminated blood transfusions (which nowadays are very rare due to the donated blood control) and during pregnancy and labor and delivery (from the infected mother to the baby).


GONORRHEA

Symptoms: Between 2 and 8 days after an unprotected sexual intercourse, the person starts developing a burning sensation and may present difficulty in passing urine. Sometimes, a yellowish or greenish flowing is noted – sometimes with blood – which comes from the urethra in the man and vagina in the woman.

Even if there isn’t any symptoms, contaminated women can transmit the causative bacterium of the disease. Also babies can be contaminated through their mother during labor and delivery. If this kind of transmission occurs, the baby eyes might be severely affected and he/she can become blind.


CHANCROID

The Chancroid, also called Soft Chancre, is caused by the Haemophilus ducreyi bacterium causing many sore and painful ulcers in the genital organs that are followed by inguinal buboes that disappear when treated. Usually the bubo breaks up into a single orifice.


LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM

The Lymphoganuloma Venereum, also called LGV, is caused by a bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. A discreet lesion in the genital organs appears and in many cases is not observed. Big inguinal buboes appear in the groins that may break up into several orifices. Its evolution is very slow and may cause elephantiasis, abnormal enlargement of parts (external sexual organs) of the body.

Also, in the late stage of this disease, it may occur anus narrowing in women.


DONOVANOSIS

Fortunately Donovanosis, also known as inguinal granuloma, is a very rare disease. Its lesions are chronic ulcers in the genital organs that usually are painless. These ulcers might evolve very slowly and frequently people of low social-economic and cultural levels are more affected because they only seek a doctor after many years of infection.

In spite of being a disease that causes big ulcerated lesions, its infection level is not serious. Some researchers even consider that Donovanosis is not really a STD. The causative bacterium of Donovanosis is Callymato bacterium granulomatis.


GENITAL WART

The Condylomata Accuminata, or Genital Warts, is a disease caused by a virus or Human papillomavirus. The Condylomata ulcers, also in the genital organs, are warts similar to a cauliflower. However, in some situations, these lesions are not typical and are clinic manifestations that can be differently treated.

The Condylomata Accuminata treatment is through chemical substances or interventions that should be performed only by very experienced professionals, as they may cause severe problems when used without indispensable precautions.


GENITAL HERPES

Genital Herpes is caused by a virus and its main manifestation is blister formation (small bubbles) that break up causing pain and burning sensation in the genital organs. The disease appears and disappears spontaneusly and stress may be one of its causative factors. Althouth, until today, there isn’t a specific drug for treating Herpes, it is wrong to think that it is an incurable disease.


NON-GONOCOCCAL URETHRITIS

Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (urethra infection that is not gonorrhea) can be caused by many germs. Many men with Non-Gonococcal Urethritis may present slight urethra secretion, feel almost no pain and discreet burning when urinating. It may be a severe disease when not treated. In Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (also Non-Gonococcal Cervicitis) the most common pathogen is Chlamydia trachomatis.

Most women don’t present any symptoms; however, they can infect their sexual partners.


INFLAMMATION OF VAGINA (VULVOVAGINITIS)

Inflammation of Vagina (Vulvovaginitis) is caused by many types of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi or protozoa) that generate a white-yellowish or grayish flowing, rash, pain during sexual intercourse, burning sensation and active odor.

Many times, sexual partners don’t present symptoms, but they can be transmitters. Therefore, it is indicated a medical exam and consequently the treatment of these sexual partners.

The most common Vulvovaginitis are Candidiasis, Trichomoniasis and Bacterial Vaginosis that can be prevented through several hygienic habits that should be instituted:


ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)

AIDS is a syndrome (many symptoms and manifestations) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV compromises the functioning of the human immunologic system, preventing it from adequately perform its function of protecting the human organism against external aggressions, such as bacteria, other virus, parasites and carcinogen cells.

Even though a person is HIV-positive, this person may not be with AIDS. AIDS represents the most advanced stage of HIV infection, when the immunologic system is severely compromised and several infections known as opportunist infections may appear.

HIV infection is a long term process that goes through several stages. The duration and severity of each stage depend on many factors related to both the virus and the infected person and it may present many different symptoms. In general, the elapsed time between exposition to HIV and the beginning of symptoms varies from 5 to 3 months. The symptoms may result in persistent flu, progressive weight loss, physical strength decrease, intermittent fever, muscular pains, nocturnal sweating, diarrhea, and other reactions. When a HIV infection is in a very advanced stage, some opportunistic diseases start to arise such as: tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic diarrhea.

Forms of infection:

Unprotected sexual intercourse with a seropositive person; direct contact with contaminated blood (which includes sharing needles for the use of injectable drugs, blood and/or blood-derived products transfusions, accidents with biological materials, occupational or not, that generate direct contact from these with mucous membranes, wounded or hurt skin and deep tissues of the body, allowing access to sanguineous flow); from a HIV-positive mother to her child, during pregnancy, labor and delivery and through breast feeding.

Prevention:

Safer sex practices (monogamous relationship with HIV-negative partner and condom use in all sexual intercourses).

When handling blood it is also recommended extreme care (use of disposable syringe, blood transfusion only after HIV blood test, use of gloves when manipulating potentially contaminated wounds or liquids). At present, there isn't an effective vaccine for preventing HIV infection.