PUBH 101 Sexually Transmitted Infections

What are major STI’s

HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, hepatitis, syphilis

Which STI has the highest new cases each year

HPV then chlamydia

What does human immunodeficiency virus (HPV) cause

acquired immunodeficiency syndromde (AIDS)

how many people have been infected with HIV since the epidemic began

65 million nearly 1% of the worlds population

where is aids a primary cause of death

africa

what is HIV

a chronic viral infection that progressively damages the body’s immune system

what cells does HIV atttack and invade

CD4 T-cells, macrophages and other essential elements of the immune system

when is aids diagnosed

when the number of CD4 t-cells drops below a certain level

what is the primary phase of infection of HIV/AIDS

flulike symptoms within a few days or weeks; highly infectious

what is the chronic asymptomatic stage (latency phase)

can last 2 to 20 years in untreated adults, virus progressively destroys cells of immune system, person remains infectious even if treated

AIDS

CD4 cells drop below a certain level, secondary infections occur

Where does HIV live

within cells and body fluids

how is HIV transmitted

blood, semen, vaginal and cervical secretions, breast milk

Where can HIV not live

air, water, objects, surfaces

what are diagnostic tests for HIV

HIV antibody tests, combination HIV antigen/antibody tests, nucleic acid tests

what are ways to protect from HIV

careful choices about sexual activity, do not share drug needles, participate in an HIV education program

what is the most prevalent bacterial STI in the United States

chlamydia

female symptoms of chlamydia

burning with urination, pain with intercourse, abdominal pain, PID, infertility, ectopic pregnancy

what are symptoms of chlamydia for men

epididymitis, urethritis, painful urination, water discharge from penis, pain around testicles, infertility

how is chlamydia treated

with antibiotics

where does gonorrhea flourish

mucous membranes

what is pelvic inflammatory disease

major complication of untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea, when the infection travels beyond the cervix, it is the leading cause of infertility in young women

what is the most common STI in the US

HPV

HSV 1

associated with cold sores, fever blister, usually acquired through oral genital contact

HSV 2

almost always sexually transmitted, spread whether active sores or asymptomatic, remains in the body for life

hepatitis B Virus

inflammation of the liver, preventable with vaccination

how is HBV transmitted

semen, saliva, blood, urine

what are symptoms of HBV

flulike, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine, abdominal pain, jaundice

what can hbv result in

cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer

what causes syphilis

treponema pallidum, acquired through sexual contact, pathogen breaks through openings in skin or mucous membranes, an infected woman can pass it to her fetus

primary syphilis

chancers, 10-90 days post exposure

secondary syphilis

3-6 weeks after chancre, body rash, flu like symptoms,

late or tertiary syphilis

damage to organs, dementia, blindness, death