STD SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

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Cecil Holt
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1 STD SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

2 CONTENTS What is STD?...1 Signs of STDs...2 Gonorrhoea...3 Syphilis...4 Chlamydia Genital Infection... 6 Genital Herpes...6 Genital Warts... 7 AIDS... 8 Protect Yourself from STDs Treatment of STDs... 12

3 WHAT IS STD? A Sexually Transmitted Disease or STD is one which is spread mainly by sexual contact with an infected person. STDs can also be spread: *by direct contact of broken skin with open sores, blood or discharge *by receiving contaminated blood e.g. through blood transfusion, or using contaminated needles in drug abuse *from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth. In Singapore, the more common STDs are: * gonorrhoea * syphilis * chlamydia genital infection * genital herpes * genital warts. The most dangerous STD is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). 1

4 SIGNS OF STDs D ifferent STDs are caused by different germs. This can result in a variety of signs of disease. The signs usually occur on or around the sex organs (i.e. penis or vagina). Some common signs of STDs are: * discharge from the sex organs * ulcers on the sex organs * rash around the sex organs * burning pain during urination. Often, STDs cause no symptoms at all, especially in women This can be dangerous because a person with a STD may not know he has the disease and may not seek treatment. If a STD is not treated, the disease may: * spread from the sex organ to other parts of the body and cause serious complications, even death * be spread to others through sexual contact * spread from mother to baby, during or after birth. 2

5 GONORRHOEA T he signs of gonorrhoea appear between 2 10 days after sexual contact with an infected person. These include: * pus discharge from the penis * yellow, bloody vaginal discharge * painful burning sensation during urination. Gonorrhoea pus discharge from male sex organ Gonorrhoea discharge is infectious. A person with gonorrhoea can infect others through sexual contact. The signs of gonorrhoea may disappear without treatment, but the germs are still present in the body. If not treated, gonorrhoea may lead to: * Infertility Gonorrhoea may damage the reproductive organs. Gonorrhoea conjunctivitis in newborn *Blindness in the newborn During childbirth, an infected mother can pass gonorrhoea to her newborn baby, causing eye infection. 3

6 SYPHILIS T here are 3 stages of syphilis. The first stage The signs appear days after sexual contact with an infected person. A painless sore usually appears at the contact area e.g. sex organs, lips or tongue. Syphilis sore on male sex organ The second stage A syphilis sore is infectious. If untreated at the frist stage, the signs appear 2 6 months after sexual contact with an infected person. These include: *a non-itchy skin rash * white patches in the mouth, throat, groin or between toes Syphilis skin rash 4 * patchy loss of hair * enlarged lymph glands. A person with the first or second stage syphilis can infect others through sexual contact.

7 The signs of the first and second stage syphilis may disappear without treatment but the disease is still present. If not treated, the disease may lead to: The third stage The signs appear 3 25 years after sexual contact with an infected person and gives rise to serious complications. These include: * paralysis * blindness * insanity * heart disease * bone/joint deformity. Syphilis joint deformity Congenital Syphilis An infected woman may pass the disease to her unborn child during pregnancy. The child may die or be born with various defects. As infected infants grow into children or teenagers, they may develop symptoms of late-stage syphilis e.g. abnormal teeth, abnormal bones and joints, deafness and eye defects. Congenital syphilis abnormal teeth 5

8 CHLAMYDIA GENITAL INFECTION T he signs appear 1 3 weeks after sexual contact with an infected person. These include: * a yellowish-white discharge from the sex organs * a mild burning sensation during urination. Chlamydia discharge from female sex organ T 6 The signs may disappear without treatment. But without treatment, the disease can lead to infertility. An infected woman may infect her newborn during childbirth. he signs of herpes appear about 2-10 days after sexual contact with an infected person. These include: GENITAL HERPES * itching/burning-feeling in the genital area * water blisters (vesicles) or open sores * discharge of fluid from the vagina. Herpes sores on male sex organ Herpes sores heal after 3 4 days but often recur. Treatment relieves pain and discomfort but cannot prevent recurrence. A woman with herpes may infect her newborn at childbirth causing blindness or mental retardation.

9 GENITAL WARTS G enital warts appear within 3 months after sexual contact with an infected person. Genital warts: * are usually soft, pink cauliflower-like growths or flesh-coloured bumps on the sex organs * may also be hard and smooth * occur alone or in groups * tend to recur after treatment * increase the risk of cervical cancer in women. Warts on male sex organ Warts on female sex organ An infected woman may infect her newborn during childbirth. A person with genital warts can infect others through sexual contact. 7

10 AIDS A IDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV HIV can spread: * by sexual contact with an HIV infected person (heterosexual or homosexual) * through HIV-contaminated needles and sharing syringes among drug addicts * through HIV-contaminated blood and blood products * from an infected mother to her child, during pregnancy childbirth, or through breast milk. HIV is NOT spread through * normal social contact *food or drinks * sneezing or coughing * insect bites *swimming pools * toilet seats *working or going to school with someone infected with HIV * looking after someone with AIDS. AIDS is incurable. There is still no cure or vaccine against AIDS. AIDS kills! 8

11 HIV infection In the early stages, HIV-infected persons may look or feel well but they have the disease and can infect others through sexual contact. After several years As the body s immune system is gradually weakened, some may develop symptoms such as: * tiredness * loss of appetite * loss of weight * prolonged fever * night sweats * skin rash * swollen lymph glands * persistent diarrhoea * lowered resistance to infections. All persons infected with HIV can infect others through sexual contact. 9

12 Later Within 8 10 years, many develop full-blown AIDS. Signs of AIDS include: * pneumonia (lung infection) * Kaposi s sarcoma (cancer of the blood vessels) * persistent diarrhoea *brain infection *widespread tuberculosis (TB). AIDS patient with Kaposi s sacroma Patients with full blown AIDS usually die within 1 1 / 2 to 3 years. 10

13 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM STDs *Maintain a mutually faithful relationship with an uninfected partner. The more sex partners a person has, the greater the risk of getting STDs. *Avoid sex with casual partners (casual friends, strangers or prostitutes). * If you do have sex with anyone else, always insist on using a condom with a spermicide from the start to the end of sexual intercourse. Condoms cannot give you 100% protection, but they can lower your risk of HIV infection. *Avoid drug abuse and sharing needles. * Know the signs of STDs and discuss them with your partner. *Women should test for any STD before or during pregnancy. *Assist in tracing any contact who may be infected. 11

14 TREATMENT OF STDs I f you think you may have an STD: * See a doctor early. You may go to: your family/polyclinic doctor the DSC (Department of STD Control) clinic * Do not self-medicate. Different STDs need different treatments. Using wrong or insufficient medicine may lead you to think that you are cured when you actually are not. If you are being treated for an STD: * Complete your medicine as prescribed, then return to your doctor for tests to check whether you are cured. * Avoid sex until you are cured. * Make sure your partner is also treated or you will be infected again. 12

15 For more information, contact: 24-hr AIDS & STD Helpline (24-hr pre-recorded messages) HIV & STD Information Hotline Tue / Thur / Fri 6.30 pm pm DSC Clinic /9716 (appointments) (personal counselling) HealthLine (personal advice during office hours) (24-hr pre-recorded health information) (The above information is correct at the time of printing).

16 Health Promotion Board 3 Second Hospital Avenue, Singapore / 3 Second Hospital Avenue, Singapore / Copyright HPB B E /V02 November 2002 Printed by Print Dynamics (S) Pte Ltd

Leader's Resource. Note: Both men and women can have an STD without physical symptoms.

Leader's Resource. Note: Both men and women can have an STD without physical symptoms. Leader's Resource Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Signs and Symptoms of STDs Note: Both men and women can have an STD without physical symptoms. Any of the following can indicate to