Syphilis, Gonorrhea & Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Originally posted 2021-09-29 04:39:49.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Some common salient features

Sexually transmitted diseases or venereal diseases are actually infections that occur mainly due to intimate sexual contact. On contracting, sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea have the ability to spread, causing serious and extensive. If you suspect of contracting this disease or has got exposed to such infection, then it is necessary to consult the doctor immediately. In case, you are infected, you need to refrain from having physical contact until you are confirmed by your doctor of being no longer contagious. Your sexual partners are to be informed about the same, so that they also get examined for the infection and avail proper and timely treatment, irrespective of they have contracted the symptoms or not.

Even though, syphilis and gonorrhea are serious cases, few others might occur that may cause considerable embarrassment or discomfort. For example, crab lice (public lice) may cause intensive itching, while venereal warts are likely to be extremely painful.

Gonorrhea

This bacterial infection is extremely contagious, affecting over 2.5 million Americans approximately every year. Generally, its symptoms appear on infection within 1-3 weeks. Such symptoms may show up as yellow-greenish to whitish penile discharge in men; deep, aching pressure or pain in the genitals or burning pain when urinating. Even women may experience frequent, painful urination; aching, deep pain occurring in lower abdomen and at times, vaginal discharge. Sore throat can be due to pharyngeal gonorrhea (in throat and mouth). Occasionally, rectal gonorrhea may cause discomfort around the anus region with slight discharge. But, no perceived symptoms is noticed in women about 80% and men about 10% to 20%.

Gonorrhea, if left untreated affects urethra in men, thereby making them to feel extreme pain and difficulty when urinating. With time, it can progress to become chronic obstruction, causing infertility. The disease may attack pelvic organs like pelvic inflammatory disease and the fallopian tubes in women, thereby causing fever, pain and infertility issues. With each infection, infertility risks only are found to increase. Around 75% of women being infected at least thrice times involving their pelvic organs are found to be infertile. This disease if left untreated in both men and women might affect the nervous system and the heart due to some generalized bacterial infection or result in arthritis. If at the time of delivery the woman experiences active gonorrhea, then her baby is likely to develop permanent blindness.

Once diagnosed, it is possible to use antibiotics to great gonorrhea effectively and quickly. With microscopic evaluation of the cervical smear or discharge, gonorrhea can be diagnosed or reliably through a culture which takes about 2 days to incubate. This culture requires repetitions one week on completion of treatment.

Syphilis

An organism termed spirochete is what causes syphilis disease through sexual contact. The U.S. health authorities have reported at least 20,000 cases annually. Probably, there are several thousands of cases more that that go unreported.

There are three stages in this disease. Firstly, chancres (skin ulcers), usually being painless and occurs within the genital region. It might erupt just about anywhere from 10-90 days on infection. It is seen in men in the penis, while in women, they form within the vagina and hence, could be missed out. But such sores are said to heal within few weeks time, thereby leaving no or very little scarring. Spirochetes is found to circulate within the bloodstream and produce second stage symptoms of the disease in few weeks like reddish rash, swollen glands and fever. Even without treatment, in a period of 10 days to about 2 weeks, such signs tend to disappear. It becomes latent and in 2 years time, this disease is no longer infections. But without any warning, the disease may enter the third stage, with time. It is also cited to be the final stage, where the brain as well as the nervous system experiences tissue damage along with the skin, bone, liver and the heart. Around 1/3rd of all untreated individuals suffering from this damage may experience death.

In case, if the women who is infected with syphilis disease contracts the disease at the time of pregnancy or gets pregnant, then her baby runs the risk of suffering from very severe birth defects or be stillborn.
Through blood test, syphilis can be diagnosed accurately and successful treatment is provided with antibiotics and penicillin. There should be conducted periodic tests after treatment for 2 years to ensure that this disease has been completely cured. Sexual partners need to be informed, examined and treated immediately like in any other sexual transmitted disease.

Venereal Warts (Condylomata acuminate)

This sexually transmitted disease is caused by virus, is red in color and has cauliflower shape, affecting women in the rectum and vaginal real. On contacting with vaginal discharge, it may grow rapidly and pregnancy is only likely to aggravate this condition. Men may show signs in the rectal and penis area.

There can be prescribed wart removing compound, although during pregnancy, it is not suggested as it may harm the fetus. Compound is meant for application on wart surface only and used with utmost care. Sitz bath is to be taken for eliminating any excess after keeping it applied for 6 hours. No OTC products are recommended, due to sensitive nature of the genital tissues. Surgery or electro-cauterization (burning) can help to remove venereal warts.

Public Lice (Crab Lice)

This is always sexually transmitted. Lice attached to public hair are yellow-grayish in color and gets dark on engorging blood of its host.

Crab lice infestation is likely to cause intense itching in public area due to parasite bite reaction. Applying prescribed shampoo, lotion or cream can help cure it. Sexual partners need to be treated, linens and clothes washed to ensure preventing re-infestation.

Conclusion

Sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea are contagious infections. Your risk exposure to such diseases increases if you are active sexually, besides monogamous single partner. More partners will only mean more risks. Some sensible precautions taken can include using spermicidal vaginal foams, condoms, creams or jellies, urinating and washing genitals after having intercourse. Also should be performed frequent testing for syphilis and gonorrhea if you or your partner has multiple sexual partners.

In case, sexual infection is suspected, then do make it a point to inform your partner(s) and consult the clinic or doctor without any further delay. It is with prescribed drug therapy or courses only that it becomes possible to cure sexually transmitted diseases completely. Avoid self treatment and do not allow embarrassment or fear to stop you from availing appropriate medical care.

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