Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), formerly known as venereal diseases, more than 25 infections passed from one person to another primarily during sexual contact. STIs are among the most common infections known—more than 15 million people in the United States become infected with one or more STIs every year. The United States has the highest STI rate in the industrialized world—roughly half of all Americans become infected with an STI before the age of 35. Despite the prevalence of STIs, studies show that many people are unaware of their risks for contracting an STI or the serious, and sometimes deadly, health consequences that may result from an untreated infection.

Some STIs, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, may cause no symptoms. People who do not know they are infected risk infecting their sexual partners and, in some cases, their unborn children. If left untreated, these diseases may cause debilitating pain or may destroy a woman’s ability to have children. Some STIs can be cured with a single dose of antibiotics, but many, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), are incurable. People with these diseases remain infectious to others for their entire lives.

See also: How STI are Transmitted

Herpes

Herpes (Greek herpein, “to creep”), name applied to several types of skin eruptions characterized by formation of blisters. The term embraces primarily two distinct disorders, herpes simplex and herpes zoster, both caused by types of herpesviruses. Other herpesviruses include Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of infectious mononucleosis (see Mononucleosis, Infectious) and cytomegalovirus, which can lead to birth defects when the virus invades pregnant women. Together, these viruses are estimated to cause more human illnesses than any other group of viruses.

HERPES SIMPLEX

Two types of herpes simplex are known. The first causes cold sores or fever blisters—an eruption of blisters that often occurs during the course of or after one of a variety of diseases associated with fever (most commonly colds, influenza, and pneumonia). The blisters usually appear around the mouth and on the lips (herpes labialis); about the nose, face, and ears; and in the mouth and pharynx. The causative virus has been shown to be present in the cell bodies of the facial nerve in people who do not have blisters. It is this reservoir of latent virus that is the source of repeated attacks. Except for lotions to relieve pain, itching, or inflammation, no established therapy has been developed.

The second type of herpes simplex virus is the usual cause of genital herpes (see Sexually Transmitted Infections). Herpetic infections of the genital area have become increasingly common. Sometimes accompanied by headache and fever, the condition usually begins with a mild itching, followed by the development of clusters of blisters that break and crust to form scabs that eventually dry up. The process may last one to three weeks. In many cases new clusters of blisters appear as others heal. When a baby is born to a woman who has active genital herpes lesions, the infant is at high risk of contracting an often fatal infection, so these infants are often delivered by cesarean section. Primary cases of genital herpes can be treated by acyclovir.

Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox, also called varicella is a contagious viral disease that affects mainly children.

Typically, chicken pox begins with a low fever, headache, rash, and a general feeling of sickness, or malaise. The rash, which usually covers the face, scalp, and trunk of the body, starts as red bumps but quickly develops into small blisters. The rash and the blisters are extremely itchy. As the disease progresses, the blisters break open and form scabs, which fall off after about one to two weeks. The incubation period—the time between initial infection and the first appearance of symptoms—is approximately two weeks.

Chicken pox is caused by varicella-zoster virus, a type of herpes virus. The virus spreads through the air via infected droplets emitted from the nose or mouth while coughing or sneezing. Touching the fluid from a chicken pox blister can also spread the disease. Chicken pox is contagious for approximately seven days during a person’s period of infection. Contagiousness begins about two days before symptoms appear and continues until all blisters have formed scabs. Doctors recommend keeping the infected person isolated from others during those seven days.

German Measles

German Measles, also rubella, contagious disease of short duration, caused by virus infection. The disease is characterized by a rose-colored rash and frequently by other mild symptoms, such as a slight fever, sore throat, and swelling of the lymph glands behind the ears. The rash, which lasts from one to four days, first appears on the face and spreads rapidly to the chest, limbs, and abdomen. German measles is most common among teenagers and young adults and rarely occurs in infants or in adults over the age of 40. It has an incubation period of 14 to 21 days, more commonly 17 or 18 days. An attack of the disease usually confers lifelong immunity.

Although far less severe than measles, German measles can have severe consequences for women in the first three months of pregnancy. The newborn child may be afflicted with various congenital abnormalities, including heart defects, mental retardation, deafness, and cataracts. The incidence of these malformations is so high that many physicians recommend therapeutic abortion, if miscarriage has not already resulted from the disease. An attack of rubella after the fourth month of pregnancy rarely causes birth defects. Pregnant women who are exposed to German measles are given gamma globulin in an effort to prevent contraction of the disease. Women of childbearing age are advised to be immunized with attenuated live virus vaccines several months before anticipated pregnancy.

Measles

Measles, also rubeola, acute, highly contagious, fever-producing disease caused by a filterable virus, different from the virus that causes the less serious disease German measles, or rubella. Measles is characterized by small red dots appearing on the surface of the skin, irritation of the eyes (especially on exposure to light), coughing, and a runny nose. About 12 days after first exposure, the fever, sneezing, and runny nose appear. Coughing and swelling of the neck glands often follow. Four days later, red spots appear on the face or neck and then on the trunk and limbs. In 2 or 3 days the rash subsides and the fever falls; some peeling of the involved skin areas may take place. Infection of the middle ear may also occur.

No specific treatment for measles exists. Patients are kept isolated from other susceptible individuals, usually resting in bed, and are treated with aspirin, cough syrup, and skin lotions to lessen fever, coughing, and itching. The disease usually confers immunity (See Immunization) after one attack, and an immune pregnant woman passes the antibody in the globulin fraction of the blood serum, through the placenta, to her fetus.