STIs

The 4 curable STIs

syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis

The 4 incurable STIs

hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV or herpes), HIV, and human papillomavirus (HPV)

STIs can be transmitted through

• sexual activity (through direct contact with infected organic fluids sperm and vaginal secretions - with mucous membranes).

• intimate contacts (oral, kissing and petting - direct contact with infected organic fluids).

STDs can be roughly divided into:

• systemic diseases, when the genital region is the way in of the germ and the clinical manifestations are mainly systemic (HIV, hepatitis, Cytomegalovirus infections and EB virus)

• genital diseases, for which the infectious agent expresses its pathogenic potential mainly at the genital level.

Neisseria gonorrhea

Neisseria gonorrhea is a diplococcus (Gram -) with several pili for adhesion(coffee beans shape). It contains a capsule with several polysaccharides, and it is an obligated parasite. It develops at 35-37°C in the presence of moisture and CO2.

Transmission of N.gonorrhea

• Direct, sexually or through saliva, vaginal or seminal fluid or from mother to fetus during childbirth (gonococcal conjunctivitis).

• Indirect, underwear, bathing suits, bed sheets, etc..

Reservoir of n.gonorrhea in men

localized in the anterior and back urethritis causing acute or chronic form of disease. Complication of the acute form can be infection in the prostatitis and cystitis and epididymitis. If the infection is not cured can cause male infertility. Symptoms are swollen testicles, discharge and inflammation, the infection can also reach the kidneys giving a burning sensation.

Reservoir of n.gonorrhea in women

localized in the uterine cervix or the urethra, possible complication can be endometritis, salpingovarite and pelvic peritonitis. If is not cured can cause female infertility. Symptoms are abdominal pain or pain with intercourse, vaginal discharge and bleeding.

Diagnostic assessments for N.gonorrhea

It is directly done on the infected material and then watched with the optical microscope. The research of the gonococcus must be carried out in 4 locations: the uterine cervix, the urethra, the pharynx and the anus and it is more difficult than in man for the richness of the flora.

Is neisseria gonorrhea incurable?

Yes, if the antibiotic treatments are not strictly followed

Treponema pallidum

the pathogen was first called "Spirochete pallidum", later "Treponema pallidum”. Treponema pallidum belongs to the family of Treponema, bacteria with helical shape, mobile and cross-divided. The in vitro culture of treponemes has not yet been carried out, therefore, their metabolism is poorly understood.

Syphilis clinical aspects

1. Recent Syphilis. It includes: the incubation period (25 days on average); the primary clinical manifestations (45 days on average); the classic manifestations of the secondary period (beginning at 2 months from the contagion, duration from 1 to 2 years); Recent serological syphilis (from infection up to the third year of illness).

2. Latent Syphilis. It occurs when the recent lesions disappear and only serological positivity persists or in the case of positive serology when clinical lesions have not previously been observed. The increasing frequency of totally asymptomatic serological syphilides and spontaneous latent forms should be noted.

3. Late symptomatic syphilis (tertiary phase). It occurs from 5 to 20 years after infection, with cutaneous and / or visceral manifestations, mostly cardiovascular or nervous. Two out of three patients do not have any complications.

Recent Syphilis

It includes: the incubation period (25 days on average); the primary clinical manifestations (45 days on average); the classic manifestations of the secondary period (beginning at 2 months from the contagion, duration from 1 to 2 years); Recent serological syphilis (from infection up to the third year of illness).

Latent Syphilis

It occurs when the recent lesions disappear and only serological positivity persists or in the case of positive serology when clinical lesions have not previously been observed. The increasing frequency of totally asymptomatic serological syphilides and spontaneous latent forms should be noted.

Late symptomatic syphilis (tertiary phase)

It occurs from 5 to 20 years after infection, with cutaneous and / or visceral manifestations, mostly cardiovascular or nervous. Two out of three patients do not have any complications.

Clinical manifestation of symptoms

1. Primary clinical manifestations. Syphiloma can appear in the genital area in the man in the balano-preputial sulcus or on the foreskin; in the woman on the big lips or small lips and in the fornix.

2. Secondary phase of syphilis. Examples of vesicular rash start to emerge, irritations without itching can manifest in hands, feet and trunk. The irritation ends in a few weeks. Syphilis is mainly diagnosed at this stage. Bacteria are present in the lesions.

Symptomatology. Latent/tertiary syphilis causes severe damage to the musculoskeletal and neurological system. It is treatable, but the alterations induced by the disease are incurable and permanent. If left untreated, syphilis is lethal. It can cause serious harm to the fetus and lead to an abortion. It can lead to disfiguring lesions, neurological and cognitive injuries.

Primary clinical manifestations.

Syphiloma can appear in the genital area in the man in the balano-preputial sulcus or on the foreskin; in the woman on the big lips or small lips and in the fornix.

Secondary phase of syphilis

Examples of vesicular rash start to emerge, irritations without itching can manifest in hands, feet and trunk. The irritation ends in a few weeks. Syphilis is mainly diagnosed at this stage. Bacteria are present in the lesions.

Latent/tertiary syphilis

causes severe damage to the musculoskeletal and neurological system. It is treatable, but the alterations induced by the disease are incurable and permanent. If left untreated, syphilis is lethal. It can cause serious harm to the fetus and lead to an abortion. It can lead to disfiguring lesions, neurological and cognitive injuries.

PREGNANCY AND CONGENITAL SYPHILIS.

Fetal infection is the rule in absence of therapy in the case of a mother suffering from primary and/or secondary syphilis (lue). We speak of congenital syphilis in the case of transmission of the disease to the fetus during pregnancy through the placenta, through contact with infected lesions during the passage in the birth canal or with lesions of the nipple during lactation. Transplacental infection of the fetus can occur at any stage of maternal infection and at every stage of pregnancy. The clinical manifestations of perinatal syphilis resemble those of other infections that spread via blood from mother to child. Depending on whether in the newborn the syphilitic infection occurs from birth or late, we distinguish respectively early congenital syphilis and late congenital syphilis.

Diagnosis of syphilis

he combination of these tests is often used.

1. Bacteriological

2. Serological, looking from antigens

   1. Non-treponemal examinations

   2. Treponemal examinations

Syphilis treatment

The disease is easily treated with the use of penicillin antibiotic. The preparation, the dosage and the duration of treatment depend on the stage of the disease and its clinical manifestations. The efficacy of this treatment has been confirmed by numerous case studies, clinical trials and fifty years of clinical experience. In addition to the antibiotic treatment, the infected person must abstain from any sexual activity with new partners until the wounds are fully recovered. Furthermore, diagnostic tests and treatment must also be performed on the patient's sexual partners.