Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Overview & Management

Vocabulary flashcards covering major STDs, their causative pathogens, presentations, diagnostic methods, and treatments as described in the lecture notes.

Gonorrhea

A bacterial STD caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae; can cause urethritis, cervicitis, and may extend to upper genital tract infections; can disseminate and cause arthritis, endocarditis, or meningitis; diagnosed by Gram stain, culture, or DNA-based testing.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Bacterium that causes gonorrhea.

Chlamydia

A bacterial STD caused by Chlamydia trachomatis; often asymptomatic but can cause discharge and cervical or urethral symptoms; diagnosed by culture or antigen detection testing (ELISA).

Chlamydia trachomatis

The causative bacterium of Chlamydia infections.

Syphilis

Infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum; transmitted through direct contact with lesions or blood; has stages from primary chancre to secondary rash, latent, and potential cardiovascular or neurosyphilis.

Treponema pallidum

Spirochete that causes syphilis.

Herpes genitalis (HSV-2)

Genital herpes primarily due to herpes simplex virus type II; presents with itching/painful lesions that progress from vesicles to ulcers; diagnosed via viral culture or serology (ELISA).

Herpes simplex virus Type II (HSV-2)

Herpes virus type associated mainly with genital herpes.

Genital warts

Condyloma acuminata caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV); various HPV types contribute to wart formation and cancer risk.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

DNA virus transmitted sexually; types 6 and 11 commonly cause genital warts, while types 16, 18, 31, 33, and 35 are high-risk for cervical and other cancers.

HPV types 6, 11, 42, 43, 44 (genital warts)

HPV types associated with condyloma acuminatum (genital warts).

HPV high-risk types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35

HPV types associated with higher risk of cervical and other cancers.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Retrovirus causing immune deficiency; transmitted sexually and via other routes; can lead to AIDS if untreated.

Trichomonas

Parasitic infection (Trichomonas vaginalis) causing discharge, pruritus, dyspareunia; may present with a strawberry-like cervix.

Pediculosis pubis (pubic lice)

Infestation with Pubic lice; severe pruritus in the pubic region; treated with topical pediculicides.

Pubic lice treatments (Permethrin 1%, Pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide, Malathion 0.5%)

Topical treatments used to eradicate pubic lice infestation.

Scabies

Parasitic infestation by Sarcoptes scabiei; presents with severe pruritus and rash in folds; treated with Elimite (permethrin) or oral ivermectin.

Elimite 5% cream

Permethrin-based topical treatment for scabies; applied from neck down and left on for 8–14 hours.

Ivermectin

Oral antiparasitic treatment for scabies (used as an alternative or adjunct).

Gonococcal urethritis

Urethral infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae; part of gonorrhea spectrum.

Gonococcal cervicitis

Cervical infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Disseminated gonorrhea

Gonorrhea with systemic spread, may cause skin lesions and arthritis; more noted in pregnancy.

Endocarditis

Infection of the heart valves; a possible complication of disseminated gonorrhea.

Meningitis

Infection of the membranes surrounding the brain; a possible complication of disseminated gonorrhea.

Gram stain

Laboratory staining technique used to categorize bacteria; used in gonorrhea diagnosis from urethral discharge.

Culture

Laboratory method to grow and identify pathogens; used for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing.

DNA technology (molecular testing)

Molecular diagnostic methods used to detect pathogens (e.g., gonorrhea) via DNA/RNA analysis.

Chancre

Painless, indurated ulcer characteristic of primary syphilis; highly infectious and resolves spontaneously.

Primary syphilis

Initial stage of syphilis marked by chancre at the infection site.

Secondary syphilis

Systemic stage 6–8 weeks after the chancre; may include rash, condyloma lata, alopecia, and mucous membrane lesions.

Condyloma lata

Moist, flat, wart-like lesions seen in secondary syphilis.

Alopecia (syphilis-related)

Circumscribed hair loss associated with secondary syphilis.

Latent syphilis

Asymptomatic stage of syphilis lasting more than one year (early latent includes recent infection; late latent beyond a year).

Cardiovascular syphilis

Syphilitic infection affecting the cardiovascular system, including the aorta and its branches.

Neurosyphilis

Treponema pallidum invasion of neural tissue; can occur at various stages and may involve the CNS/spinal fluid.

VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory)

Non-treponemal serologic test for syphilis screening.

RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin)

Non-treponemal serologic test used for syphilis screening.

FTA-ABS (Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption)

Treponemal test used to confirm syphilis infection.

Darkfield microscopy

Microscopic technique used to visualize Treponema pallidum from lesions in syphilis.

Pap smear

Cervical cytology test used to screen for cervical abnormalities, including HPV-related changes.

Pap smear and HPV DNA testing

Diagnostic approaches for detecting cervical HPV infection and related cellular changes.

Condyloma acuminata sites (penis, meatus, vulva, vaginal wall)

Locations where genital warts (HPV) may appear.

Bacterial vaginosis

Non-STD vaginal condition with milky discharge and odor; diagnosed by wet prep with clue cells and positive whiff test.

Clue cells

Vaginal epithelial cells coated with bacteria seen on wet mount in BV.

Whiff test

KOH test yielding fishy odor, used in BV diagnosis.