Sexually_Transmitted_Diseases

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Sexually transmitted diseases infect an estimated 1 million people, daily. In each generation that passes, the age of the average person who is sexually active lowers. In 2005, a study showed the at least 26% of males and females have had sex by their 15th birthday. An estimated 4 in 5 people have or will have an STD in their lifetime. At these alarming rates, I believe that everyone should be educated on STDs and their symptoms and treatments. AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, has killed more than 22 million to date, and has infected over 40 million people living today. In the United States, an estimated 40,000 new infections occur each year, with 75% of them transmitted by heterosexuals. AIDS has now been classified as a pandemic, or a disease that has been spread worldwide. AIDS is disease of the immune system that occurs after contracting human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Attacking T-helper cells and macrophages, HIV weakens the body’s ability to fight off infections. Secondary diseases are usually what prove fatal for AIDS victims, with rarely encountered ones such as pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma leading to death. The HIV virus is exchanged via unprotected sex, hypodermic needles, open wounds, vaginal fluids, semen, childbirth, or blood. It occurs in most body fluids except tears and saliva. There is no cure and no vaccine for AIDS. Antiretroviral treatments can help slow growth, but are expensive and not always available. Chlamydia Chlamydia, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the most commonly reported STD. It infects an estimated 5 million people each year. The largest group affected is females ages 15-19. Chlamydia symptoms are mild and not usually noticed. They include painful urination, lower abdominal pain, discharge from the penis or vagina, painful intercourse, and testicular pain. In males, Chlamydia can cause urethritis, an infection of the urethra, and in females, it infects the reproductive tract and may cause sterility if left untreated. Chlamydia is transferred via unprotected sexual intercourse or unprotected contact of the genitals. It can also be passed to a newborn during childbirth. Antibiotics are used as a treatment. Gonorrhea Gonorrhea, caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoae, is second most commonly reported STD. In 2006, over 1 million people were diagnosed with it. The largest group affected is females ages 15-19. It is also known as “the clap.” Symptoms of gonorrhea often occur 2-10 days after infection, but in some cases may not show up for several months. They include cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina, pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, and pain during intercourse. In males, it can cause urethritis. In females, it infects the vagina, urethra, uterus, uterine tubes, and pelvic cavity. It is a major cause of sterility if left untreated. Gonorrhea is transferred via semen or vaginal fluids. Antibiotics are used as a treatment, and are usually given in a single dose. Genital Herpes Genital herpes, caused by herpes simplex virus type 2, has infected approximately 45 million people. It is more common in females than males, affecting 1 in 4 women versus 1 in 5 men. Most people do not know that they have contracted the disease. Some experience an outbreak, while others never experience any symptoms. Signs of herpes include small red bumps or sores in the genital or anal areas and pain or itching around the genital and anal area and inner thighs. Itching usually occurs first, followed by small red bumps that rupture, heal, and disappear. During an outbreak, you may also have flu-like symptoms. Triggers for outbreaks may include stress, menstruation, steroids, chemotherapy, illness, surgery, intercourse, or fatigue. Herpes can be spread through sexual and skin-to-skin contact. It can also be transmitted during childbirth. There is no cure for genital herpes. Antiviral medications , which retard viral replication, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir are available. While the virus will remain in your body and can still be transmitted, these medications decrease chances of outbreaks and infecting others. Genital Warts Genital warts, caused by the Human papillomavirus (HPV), infects approximately 1 million people each year. An estimated 50% of men and women who are sexually active have had an HPV infection. According to MedTV, “By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have been infected with genital HPV infection.” Symptoms of genital warts include small, flesh colored or gray warts around genital area, clusters of warts that a form a “cauliflower” shape, itching, discomfort, bleeding during intercourse, or some may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms may be noticed a few months to years after development. Genital warts are highly contagious and can be contracted by not only unprotected sexual intercourse, but sexual contact as well. There is no cure for genital warts. The warts may be treated by using creams, burned off by electrocautery, frozen by cryosurgery, or removed by laser surgery; however HPV is a virus and remains in the body, and outbreaks may reoccur. HPV also increases the risk of cancers that are associated with the reproductive system. Syphilis Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, has been on the incline for six consecutive years. Males are 3.5 times more likely to contract the disease than women. In 2006, there were 9,756 cases reported. There are four stages of the disease. The primary stage occurs ten days to three months after infection. Symptoms include a small, painless, open sore called a chancre at the sight of the infection. The secondary stage occurs two to ten weeks after the primary stage. Symptoms include rash of red, penny-sized sores on any part of the body, muscle and joint pain, fever, fatigue, and discomfort. The latent stage occurs following the secondary stage. There are no symptoms in this stage. The final stage of syphilis is the tertiary stage. There is serious damage to the internal organs, particularly the liver and brain. Possible results are stroke, aneurysm, paralysis, dementia, aortic valve stenosis, and valvular heart disease. Syphilis can be transmitted via cuts and scrapes in the skin and mucous membranes, contact with an open sore during intercourse, transfusion of infected blood, direct contact with an open sore, and childbirth. It can only be contracted by intimate contact. Antibiotics, primarily penicillin, are used as a treatment prior to the third stage. Conclusion The groups with the highest numbers of infections for nearly all STDs are females 15-19 and males 20-24. STDs are spread through ignorance and denial. Either people don’t know they have been exposed to an STD or purposely do not tell a sexual partner that they are infected with one. It can be embarrassing, yet it is extremely important to tell partners that you are or have been infected in the past. With the dramatic growth of cases reported in the United States alone, it is important that people should educate themselves and others on STDs and receive check ups regularly. Works Cited “AIDS.” Wikipedia. 23 June 2008. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aids > “Chlamydia.” Mayo Clinic. 27 Oct 2006. < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chlamydia/DS00173 > “Genital herpes.” Mayo Clinic. 27 Oct 2006. < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/genital-herpes/DS00179 > “Gonorrhea.” Mayo Clinic. 27 Oct 2006. < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gonorrhea/DS00180 > “Sexually transmitted disease.” Wikipedia. 30 June 2008. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually_transmitted_diseases#Prevalence > “STD/STI STATISTICS”. American Social Health Association. 9 Oct 2006. < http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_statistics.cfm > “STD Statistics for the USA.” Avert. 27 May 2008. < http://www.avert.org/stdstatisticusa.htm > “Syphilis.” Mayo Clinic. 27 Oct 2006. < http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/syphilis/DS00374 > “Trends - STD Surveillance 2006.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Nov 2007 < http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/trends2006.htm > “Vital Statistics.” Until There’s a Cure. 2008. “World Health Organization.” Wikipedia. 26 June 2008. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO >