These are a group of infections that are primarily transmitted through sexual exposures. They can be either asymptomatic or symptomatic infections.
In Males
- Urethral discharge
- Urinary dysuria
- Scrotal swelling
In Females
- Vaginal discharge
- Vuval itching
- Vuval soreness
- Lower abdominal pain
Both Males and Females
- genital ulcers
- Genital warts (genital growths or lumps)
Some are completely curable (syphilis, gonorrhea) while some can be only cured temporarily as they are liable to recur (HSV, Human papilloma virus infection).
Yes, not all but some can be transmitted to the new born.
Syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts and herpes are such STIs.
Males develop urethral discharge and urinary dysuria, while females develop vaginal discharge as the first main symptom. The discharge is usually copious and purulent in both males and females.
If untreated both can lead to complications, such as scrotal swelling in males and pelvic inflammatory disease in females.
Not every person infected develop symptoms, but asymptomatic infections can also cause complications.
Therefore any person with unprotected high risk sexual exposures (casual sex) should get themselves screened.
There is effective treatment which can completely cure the infection. Contacts must be treated even if asymptomatic.
In females untreated infection during pregnancy can lead to opthalmia neonatarum in newborns.
Chlamydia is a bacteria causing urethritis in males and cervicitis in females.The presentation is similar to gonorrhea but the discharge is scanty and less purulent, more of watery consistency.This is also completely curable with antibiotics and contacts also warrant treatment.
It is also a STI which causes urethritis in males and vaginitis in females. It causes a typical frothy vaginal discharge which is having a fishy odor. It is completely curable and contact tracing and treatment is essential.
Genital herpes - causes multiple painful genital ulcers preceded by multiple fluid filled vesicles.
Syphilis - usually cause painless single genital ulcer.
From these two infections syphilis can be completely cured and if not treated syphilis can progress in to a systemic disease. There can be multiple lymphadenopathy, generalized skin rash and flat mucosal lesions in the genitalia called condyloma lata and mucosal erosions in the genitals and oral cavity. In very late stages of the disease there can be damage to the neurological system and the cardiovascular system. Treatment is available in oral and injection form, it is essential to treat contacts of those with early stages of the disease.
Herpes on the other hand can only be temporally suppressed with medications, there is a tendency to recur. But the recurrent lesions are not that painful.
Both syphilis and herpes can be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy which can cause high mortality and morbidity leading to IUD, preterm delivery and congenital infections. Early detection during pregnancy and treating the mothers can help, save the children from these unwanted outcomes.
- Firstly you can delay sexual activities till marriage.
- Secondly one can have a faithful single sexual partner.
- Thirdly adhere to the use of condoms, condoms should be used correctly and consistently.
