Introduction
If a person has sex, they may also have a sexually transmitted disease, with restrained or perceptible signs. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD), also known as venereal diseases (VD), are diseases that transmit significantly between humans through human sexual behavior, containing vaginal intercourse, and other forms. More recently the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has begun to be preferred, as it covers a broader range of meaning; an individual may be infected, and may possibly infect others, without having a disease.
Some STDs can also be communicated through the use of IV used drug needles between an infected person and non-infected person, over childbirth or breastfeeding. Infectious diseases, like the common cold, influenza, pneumonia, and many others that can be communicated person-to-person can also be communicated in sexual contact, from an infected person, primarily due to the close contact involved. However, even though these diseases may be transmitted during sex, they are not considered STDs. An STD is a disease that has been acquired through sexual contact only. Many STDs are rather transmitted with ease through mucous membranes of the penis, vulva, rectum, urinary tract and (less often—depending on type of infection) the mouth, throat, respiratory tract and eyes (Naidu, 2010). Sexually transmitted diseases have been accounted for hundreds of years, and a branch of medicine that studies these diseases named venereology has been existence for long.
Analysis
A brief analysis of STDs and STIs follows.
Causes of STDs
The causes of STDs and STIs can be Bacterial example Chancroid, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Granuloma inguinale, Syphilis; Fungal for example Candidiasis (yeast infection); Viral for example Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis is not sexual communicable (Workowski and Berman,2006)), HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HPV (Human Papillomavirus, Molluscum contagiosum (molluscum contagiosum virus MCV) through close contact; Parasitic for example Crab louse, Scabies; Protozoal for example Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis),
Symptoms of STDs
STDs have specific symptoms as it STD is the condition when the diseases has already settled in, the more dangerous condition is the STI which in most cases is asymptotic i.e. without symptoms. How common STD can be recognized are as follows.
- Chlamydia symptoms - painful urination, lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge in women, discharge from the penis in men, pain during sexual intercourse in women, testicular pain in men
- Gonorrhea symptoms- thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina; pain or burning sensation when urinating; abnormal menstrual bleeding; painful, swollen testicles; painful bowel movements; anal itching
- HIV symptoms
Early signs and symptoms – fever; headache; sore throat; swollen lymph glands; rash; fatigue
As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, development of mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms such as: swollen lymph nodes (very often one of the first signs of infection); diarrhea; loss of weight; fever; cough and shortness of breath
Later stage HIV infection - persistent, unexplained fatigue; soaking night sweats; shaking chills or fever for several weeks; swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months; chronic diarrhea; persistent headaches; unusual, opportunistic infections
- Genital herpes symptoms - small, red bumps, blisters (vesicles) or open sores (ulcers) in the genital, anal and nearby areas; pain or itching around the genital area, buttocks and inner thighs (MAYO CLINIC, 2012)
Prevention and Cure
Prevention in addressing incurable STDs and STIs, such as HIV and herpes is the first step towards eradication. Preferably, both companions must be tested for STDs before sexual contact is initiated, or before it is resumed, if one of the partners has engaged in sexual contact with a third person (CDC, 2012).
Many of these infections are not immediately detectable after exposure; therefore adequate time must be allowed in between likely exposures and testing for accuracy. Some methods of prevention are: vaccines - available for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and some types of HPV; Condoms for both males and females; vaginal microbicide like Nonoxynol-9 (speculated and under research (Wilkinson et al, 2002)); and most importantly awareness.
Cure in case of present day STDs is limited and is still under research and development. However, medical markets do provide drugs under testing for patients suffering from STDs, but as the early warning goes, prevention is better than cure.
Discussion
The world population today suffers from a large number of diseases, some of which are STDs on a pandemic scale. STD occurrence frequency remains high throughout the world, in spite of diagnostic and therapeutic developments that can speedily render patients with many STDs non-infective, and cure most of the STDs. In a large number of cultures, shifting sexual ethics and oral contraceptive usage has removed traditional sexual curbs, specifically for women, and both doctors and patients have trouble addressing openly and straightforwardly with sexual matters, added, growth and spread of drug-resistant bacteria has made some STDs tougher to cure.
Travellers and sea voyagers have known to carry infections and diseases throughout the millennia, by way of plants, animals and humans. With globalization and formation of a global village, travelling has become easier and cheaper and hence the threat of an outbreak of diseases is certain. The consequence of travel and sea voyaging is most effectively exemplified by the fast spread of the AIDS virus (HIV-1) from Africa to Europe and the Americas in the late 1970s (Shafer and Moscicki, 2006).
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Conclusion
The spread of STDs is heavily dependent upon unprotected sex, having multiple sexual partners, ignorance, wrong influences of both unsocial culture and misleading media campaigns. It must be noted that STD infections begin young, amounting to the fact that people start indulging in unprotected sexual activity at a young age. The reasons for such behavior may be many, from peer pressure, familial issues to drug abuse, but the prevalence and the wide spread of STDs is a direct sign of deteriorating moral values, ignorance, and low health awareness. However, there is hope, as STDs can be fought back through the use of contraceptive condoms, safe sex and routine checkups at health centers especially for persons involved with multiple sexual partners, and through the hope that advances in medicines will help in fighting back STDs.
Works Cited
Naidu, K. Madhav. "Epidemiology and Management". Community Health Nursing. Gyan Publishing House (2010). p. 248.
Workowski K, Berman S (2006). "Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2006." MMWR Recomm Rep 55 (RR–11): 1–94. PMID 16888612.
Wilkinson D, Ramjee G, Tholandi M, Rutherford G (2002). "Nonoxynol-9 for preventing vaginal acquisition of sexually transmitted infections by women from men". In Wilkinson, David. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD003939. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003939. PMID 12519623.
CDC (2012) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of STD Prevention Public Law 106-554, Section 515: http://www.cdc.gov/std/ retrieved: July 10, 2013
MAYO CLINIC (M.C.) (May 1, 2012) Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) ID00053
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/std-symptoms/ID00053/NSECTIONGROUP=2. Retrieved: July 10, 2013
