Common STIs

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Common STIs
Why is it necessary for you to be informed about
sexually transmitted diseases or infections?
Learning about STDs can help you avoid the
behaviors that lead to infection.
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Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, you will learn to

• Describe the symptoms and treatments for some
  common STDs
• List community health services that help with the
  prevention and treatment of STDs
• Examine public health policies and practices
  regarding STDs
• Discuss the harmful effects of STDs on the fetus

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Common STIs
Some STDs Prevalent in the United States
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Human Papillomavirus
An Epidemic of STDs in the United States

• The human papillomavirus (HPV), is considered the
  most common STD in the United States.
• About 30 different types of HPV can infect the
  genital area.
• Most types of HPV infections are asymptomatic.
• A Pap test and other medical examinations may
  detect changes associated with HPV.
• Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by
  certain types of HPV.

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Human Papillomavirus
Genital Warts

• Genital warts are pink or reddish warts with
  cauliflowerlike tops that appear on the genitals,
  the vagina, or the cervix one to three months
  after infection from HPV.
• Diagnosis is determined by a health care worker
  by examination of the warts.
• Treatments can rid the body of the warts but not
  the virus.
• Infants born to females infected with HPV may
  develop warts in their throats, obstructing the
  breathing passages, which can be life-threatening.

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Chlamydia
What Is Chlamydia?

• Chlamydia is asymptomatic in 75 percent of
  infected females and 50 percent of infected
  males.
• Chlamydia is diagnosed by laboratory examination
  of secretions from the cervix and the urethra.
• It can be treated with antibiotics, but no
  immunity develops, so a person can become
  infected again.
• Chlamydia can cause premature birth, and infants
  born to infected females may develop eye disease
  or pneumonia.

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Genital Herpes
What Is Genital Herpes?

• Most individuals who have genital herpes are
  asymptomatic.
• Those who do show symptoms typically have
  blisterlike sores in the genital area that occur
  periodically.
• Diagnosis is made through laboratory tests on the
  fluid from the blisters.
• Medication can relieve the symptoms but cannot
  cure herpes infection.
• The herpes virus is potentially fatal for infants
  who contract the virus from their mothers at the
  time of delivery.

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Gonorrhea
What Is Gonorrhea?

• Symptoms of gonorrhea include a discharge and
  pain or burning on urination.
• Diagnosis in males is made by staining and
  examining the discharge under a microscope.
• Diagnosis in females is made by swabbing the
  cervix and growing the organisms in a laboratory.
• Infants born to mothers with gonorrhea can
  contract eye infections that cause blindness.

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Trichomoniasis
What Is Trichomoniasis?

• Trichomoniasis may result in vaginitis, an
  inflammation of the vagina characterized by
  discharge, odor, irritation, and itching.
• When symptoms do occur in males, they include
  mild urethral itching or discharge and burning
  after urination.
• In females, trichomoniasis is diagnosed by
  microscopic examination of the discharge, while
  males are usually treated without laboratory
  testing if their partners are infected.

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Syphilis
What Is Syphilis?

• The first sign of syphilis is a painless reddish
  sore called a chancre.
• The sore will heal on its own, but if the
  infection is not treated, it spreads through the
  blood to other parts of the body.
• Eventually, the disease can damage internal
  organs, including the heart, liver, nervous
  system, and kidneys.
• An infant infected with syphilis may have a
  damaged nervous system and can die from the
  effects.

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Other Common STDs
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Seeking Treatment
Treating STDs

• Being embarrassed should not stop a person who
  thinks that he or she may have been exposed to an
  STD from visiting a private physician or a public
  health clinic.
• Only a health care professional can prescribe the
  correct treatment, including antibiotics, for
  some STDs.

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Seeking Treatment
Preventing the Spread of Infection

• Public health clinics sometimes help with
  contacting current and past partners to make sure
  they get any needed treatment.
• Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of
  any person infected with an STD to notify
  everyone with whom he or she has had sexual
  contact.
• Informing someone else about the possibility of
  having an STD could save the persons life.

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Quick Review
Q. Which of the following STDs consistently
presents noticeable symptoms?

1. Some HPV infections like chlamydia
2. Cystitis
3. Gonorrhea, trichomoniasis
4. Genital herpes

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Quick Review - Answer
A. 2. cystitis A Cystitis is an STD that
consistently presents noticeable symptoms.
Click Next to attempt another question.
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Quick Review
Q. Which of the following is NOT an effect of
common STDs on infants?

1. Infants born to females infected with chlamydia
   may develop eye disease or pneumonia.
2. Infants born to mothers with gonorrhea can
   contract eye infections that cause blindness.
3. Infants born to mothers with herpes can die from
   the mothers Infection.
4. An infant infected with syphilis may have a
   damaged nervous system and can die from the
   effects.

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Quick Review - Answer
A. 3. Infants born to mothers with herpes can die
from the mothers Infection. Effects of common
STDs on infants do NOT include the infants born
to mothers with herpes can die from the mothers
infection.
Click Next to attempt another question.
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Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. A person can go to a private physician or to a
public health clinic for the treatment of an STD.

True
False
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Quick Review - Answer
A. True. A person can go to a private physician
or to a public health clinic for the treatment of
an STD.
Click Next to attempt another question.
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Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. Public policies enable health officials to
locate and contact sexual partners of people who
have been diagnosed with an STD.

True
False
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Quick Review - Answer
A. True. Public policies enable health officials
to locate and contact sexual partners of people
who have been diagnosed with an STD.
Click Next to attempt another question.
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End of Lesson 2
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