What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
STls are diseases that you get by having sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral or anal) with someone who already has an STI. There are more than 20 kinds of STIs that affect both men and women.
What causes STIs?
Bacteria and viruses cause STls. Those caused by bacteria include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis. These can be treated and cured with antibiotics. STIs caused by viruses include HIV / AIDS, genital herpes, genital warts and cytomegalovirus infection. These STls can be controlled but not cured.
What are the various types of STIs?
HIV infection and AIDS AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease that weakens the body’s ability to protect itself from getting sick. The virus that causes it is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which is found mainiy in the blood but also in other body fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. The main sources of infection are shared needles and syringes, unsafe sex, and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy.
People with HIV infection may not have symptoms for years. However, when they develop certain infections because of their depressed immunity they are said to have AIDS. Symptoms include fever for a long duration, weight loss without a cause, extreme fatigue and prolonged diarrhoea, and the symptoms associated with opportunis-tic infections. These are infections that attack the body when immunity is depressed.
A blood test is usually carried out to detect HN. Although there is no cure for HIV infection, a combination of drug therapy, a healthy diet, exercise, stress reduction and prompt treatment of opportunistic infections can delay the onset of AIDS.
Gonorrhoea
This is an infection easily transmitted by sexual contact. The causative organism can infect the throat, producing severe soreness; the urethra, causing burning.. painful urination, and may also infect the anus and the rectum. Untreated gonorrhoea may lead to urinary tract infections and ultimately kidney failure.
The most common initial symptom is a thick discharge from the urethra which may be white or yellow. There may be painful urination. Gonorrhoea is often associated with the presence of other STis.
Safe sex behavior may reduce the risk. The affected person should be given adequate treatment with antibiotics. It is also important to locate and test all the other sexual contacts and treat them to prevent re-infection of the primary patient and further spread of the disease.
Syphilis
Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Trepollema pallidum, which penetrates broken skin and mucous membranes. It can also be transmitted to the foetus via the placenta.
In the initial stages, skin rashes may appear which are highly infectious. If the disease is not treated, bacteria continue to invade the body and infect the internal organs, the bones, heart and brain. Safe sexual practices need to be adopted to curb the spread of syphilis.
Chlamydia
It is one of the most common STls. The majority of genital chlamydia infections are without symptoms until complications appear.
Infection with chlamydia leads to pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and sterility. The symptoms include burning during urination, discharge from the tip of the penis, tenderness or pain in the testicles, fever and cllills. Chlamydia infection is often found in conjunction with gonorrhoea.
The use of condoms during sex and limiting the number of sexual partners may help in reducing the risk of developing the infection. It can be treated and cured with antibiotics.
Herpes
This is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Infection with type 1 (HSV-l) which is associated with infections of the lips, mouth and face. HSV-2 is associated with genital lesions and is transmitted by sexual contact. HSV-2 can be transmitted to a newborn during vaginal delivery if the mother is actively infected.
Infection occurs after exposure to the virus through a break in the skin, or through the mucous membranes. The virus spreads to nerve cells within the body and then to other skin surfaces. The symptoms include genital lesions, fever, vaginal discharge, sore throat and, in some cases, memory loss.
Avoiding direct contact with an open lesion will lower the risk of infection. Safe sex behaviors including the use of condoms may further lower the risk of infection.
Genital warts
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes small growths on the skin and mucous membranes. They grow best in moist genital areas and are flesh-colored tumours appearing singly or in clusters. In women, HPV can invade the vagina and cervix and may lead to cancerous changes in the cervix.
Symptoms include ‘warty’ tumours on the genitalia, genital sores, itching of the genital area and increased vaginal discharge. Topical treatments to eradicate the lesions include trichloroacetic acid and podophyllum. Abstinence of sex or the use of condoms should be practised until both partners are free of the disease.
What can be done to prevent STIs?
• Having a mutually monogamous sexual relationship with an uninfected partner
• Correctly and consistently using a condom greatly reduces the chances of acquiring an STI
• Having regular check-ups for STIs even in the absence of symptoms. Anyone diagnosed as having an STI should:
• Be treated to reduce the risk of transmitting an STI, especially a pregnant woman to an infant.
• Take the full course of medicine.
• Avoid sexual activity while being treated for an STI.
• Ensure that the partner is also diagnosed and treated.
