Health Test Out: STIs/HIV/AIDs

sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Communicable diseases that spread from one person to another during sexual activity; also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

asymptomatic

showing few or no signs of infection or disease

Chlamydia

Bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) with few or no symptoms; can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility in the female reproductive system.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Infection of the fallopian tubes and pelvic cavity that sometimes leads to infertility.

Gonorrhea

Bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) with mild or no symptoms; primarily affects the rectum, throat, and reproductive tract.

Syphilis

Bacterial STI that is fatal if untreated and has four stages: primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, latent syphilis,and late-stage syphilis.

Trichomoniasis

a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a protozoan, is easily treated once diagnosed.

Genital herpes

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of the reproductive organs, mouth, or rectum.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that infects cells in the skin and membranes, causing them to grow abnormally.

Genital warts

abnormal growths on the skin and membranes around the genitals and anus, caused by some forms of human papilloma virus (HPV).

Cervical cancer

Abnormal cancerous growth of the cervix, often caused by HPV.

Oropharyngeal cancer

Abnormal cancerous growths on the back of the throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils; often caused by HPV.

External condom

Device that fits over an erect penis; helps prevent many STIs and can reduce the chance of pregnancy occurring during sexual intercourse.

Condom

Device that acts as a barrier against pathogens during sexual activity; also acts as a barrier method of contraception.

Internal condom

device that fits inside the vagina or rectum is less effective than an external condom at preventing some STIs also reduces the chance of pregnancy occurring during sexual intercourse.

Dental dam

condom-like sheet that fits between one person's mouth and another's reproductive organs; helps prevent the transmission of STIs.

Reinfection

recurrence of a communicable disease

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Blood-borne virus that infects and kills the body's cells, weakening the immune system.

Accursed Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Health condition in which the body can no longer fight infections and disease; caused by the progression of HIV.

opportunistic infections

Disease that develop by taking advantage of a weakened immune system.

long-term non-progressors

People living with HIV who progress very slowly through the latency strange of HIV.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

treatment for HIV/AIDS that includes a mixture of three medications, each of which interferes with the reproduction of HIV inside the body

Viral load

amount of HIV in the blood

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

Emergency course of ART that a person can take within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection, that causes fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, fatigue, and altered liver function. Can lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis.