HIV/AIDS and STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

HIV/AIDS

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): attacks the immune system, making the body vulnerable to infections and diseases
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): the final stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system
• Transmission: sexual contact, sharing needles, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Symptoms: flu-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats
• Treatment: Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to manage symptoms and slow disease progression
• Prevention: safe sex practices, condoms, HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Syphilis

• Caused by: bacterium Treponema pallidum
• Transmission: sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy
• Stages:
  1. Primary: single sore or ulcer at infection site
  2. Secondary: rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes
  3. Latent: asymptomatic, but still infectious
  4. Tertiary: severe symptoms, neurological damage, blindness
• Symptoms: painless sore or ulcer, rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes
• Treatment: antibiotics (penicillin)
• Prevention: safe sex practices, condoms, regular testing

Gonorrhea

• Caused by: bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Transmission: sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth
• Symptoms:
  • Men: painful urination, white, yellow, or green discharge from penis
  • Women: painful urination, abnormal vaginal discharge, pelvic pain
• Complications: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, ectopic pregnancy
• Treatment: antibiotics (ceftriaxone, azithromycin)
• Prevention: safe sex practices, condoms, regular testing

Chlamydia

• Caused by: bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis
• Transmission: sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission during childbirth
• Symptoms:
  • Men: painful urination, abnormal discharge from penis
  • Women: abnormal vaginal discharge, painful urination, pelvic pain
• Complications: PID, infertility, ectopic pregnancy
• Treatment: antibiotics (azithromycin, doxycycline)
• Prevention: safe sex practices, condoms, regular testing

Herpes

• Caused by: herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2
• Transmission: sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact
• Symptoms:
  • Genital herpes: painful blisters, sores, or ulcers on genitals, anus, or mouth
  • Oral herpes: cold sores or fever blisters on lips, mouth, or face
• Complications: increased risk of HIV transmission, neonatal herpes
• Treatment: antiviral medications (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir)
• Prevention: safe sex practices, condoms, avoiding skin-to-skin contact during outbreaks

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

HIV/AIDS

• HIV attacks the immune system, making the body vulnerable to infections and diseases
• AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection, characterized by a severely weakened immune system
• HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact, sharing needles, and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Initial symptoms of HIV infection include flu-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes
• ART is used to manage symptoms and slow disease progression, but there is no cure for HIV
• Prevention methods include safe sex practices, condoms, HIV testing, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

Syphilis

• Caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, syphilis is transmitted through sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy
• The disease progresses through four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary
• Primary symptoms include a single sore or ulcer at the infection site, while secondary symptoms include a rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
• Latent syphilis is asymptomatic, but still infectious, and tertiary syphilis causes severe symptoms, including neurological damage and blindness
• Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are used to treat syphilis
• Prevention methods include safe sex practices, condoms, and regular testing

Gonorrhea

• Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gonorrhea is transmitted through sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission during childbirth
• Symptoms of gonorrhea in men include painful urination and white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis
• Symptoms in women include painful urination, abnormal vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain
• Complications of gonorrhea include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and ectopic pregnancy
• Antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone and azithromycin, are used to treat gonorrhea
• Prevention methods include safe sex practices, condoms, and regular testing

Chlamydia

• Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, chlamydia is transmitted through sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission during childbirth
• Symptoms in men include painful urination and abnormal discharge from the penis
• Symptoms in women include abnormal vaginal discharge, painful urination, and pelvic pain
• Complications of chlamydia include PID, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy
• Antibiotics, such as azithromycin and doxycycline, are used to treat chlamydia
• Prevention methods include safe sex practices, condoms, and regular testing

Herpes

• Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, herpes is transmitted through sexual contact and skin-to-skin contact
• Symptoms of genital herpes include painful blisters, sores, or ulcers on the genitals, anus, or mouth
• Symptoms of oral herpes include cold sores or fever blisters on the lips, mouth, or face
• Complications of herpes include increased risk of HIV transmission and neonatal herpes
• Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, are used to treat herpes
• Prevention methods include safe sex practices, condoms, and avoiding skin-to-skin contact during outbreaks