STD info

Syphilis: Causes, Symptoms and TreatmentBy James S. Pendergraft

Syphilis is a caused by Spirochetal bacterium treponeme pallidum, a spiral shaped organism. It is a disease that is transmitted through sexual contact. However, there are examples, which show that it can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to an unborn fetus. The disease is alternatively referred to as the ‘great pox’, ‘Cupid’s’ disease or ‘Lues’. An Italian physician is said to have coined the name “syphilis”. The origin of the disease is traced back to the 13- 14th centuries and more often to the pre-historic times.

The disease passes through 5 stages. Each stage brings about a different manifestation. These changes and manifestations are the symptoms of the disease.

Primary, Secondary, Latent, Tertiary and Neurosyphilis are the stages of the disease.

1-Primary syphilis is the first stage of the disease. Acquired through sexual contact, a small lesion appears on the point of contact after about 10 to 90 days after the incidence of an unprotected sex. Often, the penis, rectum or the vagina become the point of a skin lesion. This lesion persists for about 4 to 6 weeks and generally goes unnoticed by the patients. The lesion heals by itself but can lead to a swelling in the lymph node.

2-Secondary syphilis comes to fore after the primary infection. It happens within 6 months. A symmetrical non-itchy rash is usually the beginning of the second stage. The rash, which is reddish -pink in color appears on the extremities and trunk. This rash can appear on the soles of the feet and hands. Lesions with Mucous content are also a symptom. Other common symptoms of a secondary syphilis are fever, malaise, weight loss, headache and meningismus. From this stage on a person becomes contagious as the lesions are infectious for each one harbor active treponemes.

3-Latent syphilis does not have clinical evidence. This stage is again divided into early and late latent syphilis. Syphilis which is less than 2 years from the initial infection is called early syphilis. Late latent syphilis is considered to be above 2 years. This stage does not necessarily show any symptoms. Patients in this stage may or may not proceed to other stages.

4-Tertiary stage occurs after about 10 years from early contact. It may also take upto 50 years. Characterized by gummas, which are tumor-like soft balls. They can appear anywhere in the body. These gummas or otherwise called granulomas, if left untreated can lead to Neurosyphilis. Other symptoms in this stage are loss of sensation, personality changes, hyperactiveness, emotional instability and cardiovascular congestions and complications.

5-Infection affecting the central nervous system is termed as Neurosyphilis. An infected patient can proceed to be a Neurosyphilic at any stage. This stage is common among patients infected with HIV.

Treatment: Penicillin remains the only first choice treatment available to treat any manifestation of syphilis. Oral tetracycline and doxycycline is given to patients who are allergic to penicillin. However, there use is limited and little is known about its effectiveness.

To prevent the condition and educate people about the effects of unprotected sex remains the foremost step towards the eradication of the disease.

To Your Health!

About the Author: Abortion Clinic. Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women’s Center in March 1996. Florida Abortion Clinic, physical examinations, family planning, counseling. Late Term Abortion Clinic.

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Herpes 101 – An Introduction To The Herpes Simplex VirusBy Caroline Smith

There is often great confusion when it comes to herpes. Just the word “herpes” often conjures up images of a particularly nasty sexually transmitted disease. But did you know that herpes actually stems from a virus known as the herpes simplex virus? And were you aware, that the chances are that you have already caught it at some stage during your life? In fact, statistics show that around 85% of the world’s population has been infected, and it is in fact the hardest virus to control known to man. However, this is often where the confusion stems from. You see, there are two strains of the virus, known as herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2).

Herpes simplex 1 is the most common strain and is the cause of cold sores and fever blisters that appear around the mouth, lips and gums. Now everyone’s heard of a cold sore, but did you know that it is in fact oral herpes. Despite around 85% of the population being infected with HSV-1, not all people will develop cold sores or lesions around the mouth. This is because each person’s immune system is unique and many are able to suppress an outbreak. Instead, the virus lies dormant, although a carrier will still be able to pass the virus on under certain conditions.

The second strand of the virus, herpes simplex 2, is the virus responsible for genital herpes. Genital herpes is one of the most prevalent STDs, and more worryingly, research shows that there has been 32% rise in the U.S alone between 1978 and 1990. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of 5 American teenagers and adults is infected with HSV-2. The symptoms of genital herpes usually occur within 2 weeks of contracting the virus. The area infected can include the genitals, rectum, buttocks, thighs, or any other part of the body where the virus could have entered through broken skin. Small red bumps appear first which develop into itchy blisters. Other common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, difficulty urinating, vaginal discharge and swollen glands in the groin area.

The symptoms usually last 1-2 weeks. Once infected, HSV remains in the nerve cells of your body for life, and outbreaks (recurrence) can occur several times a year. Despite there still being no cure, scientists are confident that a vaccination will be developed in the next 5 years. However, an effective treatment to reduce the pain and recurrence of symptoms is Acyclovir (Zovirax), which is an antiviral medication. This can be taken in an ointment form, liquid, orally, or even intravenously depending on the severity of the outbreak. Always consult your doctor before taking any new course of medication.

An old cliché is that prevention is better than cure, and this certainly applies to herpes. Never engage in oral sex if your partner has either mouth herpes or genital herpes. Never share towels, cutlery or a toothbrush with an infected person. Always practice safe sex. Using a condom can significantly reduce the risk of transmission, although it is by no means 100% effective, since it may not cover all infected areas. Valtrex, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, may offer the best hope to sufferers at the present time. It can significantly reduce the chance of transmission, although the person infected must take it continuously.

About the Author: Caroline Smith is an author and regular contributor to http://www.about-herpes.com – An educational resource with information on genital herpes, cold sores, shingles and other diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus.

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Gonorrhea - How To Control Sexually Transmitted DiseasesBy Nilutpal Gogoi

Gonorrhea is one of the main ailments causing trauma to mankind. It is termed as STD or a disease that is sexually transmitted from one person to another. Thick discharges result from the penis and the vagina of the respective infected persons. As per a latest survey, Gonorrhea has posed a serious threat to the health departments of all governments across the globe.

Cases of Gonorrhea have been frequently reported from among those people who are sexually very active. Mention may be made of the teenagers, youths or the African Americans in the USA where on the average 700,500 people annually fall prey to this debilitating ailment. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg; for many such Gonorrhea cases go unreported for various reasons.

Most of the countries regularly take up mass awareness campaigns on the STD diseases when the health volunteers identify and meet the vulnerable sections of the populations in their respective countries. There are clinics and also mobile health units that regularly distribute the necessary aids among the targeted population to ensure that STD diseases, such as Gonorrhea, are kept at bay. Owing to such campaigns, the number of people affected by Gonorrhea has been coming down.

The primary cause of Gonorrhea is the bacterium — Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacterium needs a moist and warm environment to reproduce itself and these ideal locales are to be found in the reproductive section of a woman as well as the urinary canal besides the anus, eyes, throat and also the mouth. Once a man or a woman gets affected by Gonorrhea, the bacterium transforms those places into its habitat to multiply fast and rather easily.

Mentionably, a woman’s reproductive section is made up of three main parts, viz., the fallopian tubes via which the human eggs are transported, the womb or the uterus and the womb opening or the cervix. All these sensitive and vital sections of a woman’s body is very susceptible to Gonorrhea.

The commonly reported symptoms of Gonorrhea are swollen or painful testicles or a sensation of burning during urinating or the penis discharging green colored thick fluid almost akin to the semen. However, these symptoms appear almost a month after the person has been infected by Gonorrhea.

There are a number of ways in which Gonorrhea can be transmitted. The main means is sexual intercourse. The disease is spread via the male sexual organ – the penis – as well as the primary female sexual organ — the vagina – or the anus and even the mouth. One should always take extra care and use preventive measures (like the condom in the case of males or the loop in the case of women) to check Gonorrhea.

Once ejaculation occurs from an infected male inside the naked vaginal portion of a woman, the woman can get affected by the disease. There are also cases of Gonorrhea being transmitted from an infected woman to a male during sexual intercourse or even while kissing. It is important to remember that anyone can be affected by Gonorrhea several times notwithstanding the fact that this person did undergo treatment for the disease earlier and was cured subsequently. Gonorrhea can pass on to the new-born baby from the affected mother.

About the Author: Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published one popular adventure book for children and has published more than 1000 articles for various sites, as such
http://www.thehealthiness.com/

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Finding Cream For Genital WartBy Roger Thompson

The issue of genital warts is one of serious importance, especially considering that they are considered as being one of the most commonly spread sexually transmitted diseases in the world. They are incredibly contagious, and the worst part of all is that many people do not even realize that they have the disease until it is too late and they have already spread it to another partner.

Genital warts are caused by a virus known as HPV. There are actually over 100 different strands of this virus presently known of in the world, however only a few strands in particular actually end up causing genital warts. They may be small, flat flesh-colored bumps that appear on and around the genital area, and even sometimes on the mouth, if one has come in contact orally with an infected person. In men, for the most part genital warts will tend to grow on the shaft of the penis or around the anus, whereas in women they usually appear on the inside walls of the vagina and on the vulva. They may vary in size and some are actually so small that you may not even notice they are there at all.

There are a few different methods of treatment that are commonly used for genital warts today, and genital wart cream is one of the most popular of all these methods. Genital wart cream is available in a variety of brands, Aldara being the most recognizable. This particular genital wart cream is typically applied about three times a week, usually right before you go to sleep, so that it can remain on the skin for about 8 hours. It basically works by stimulating the body’s own immune system to destroy the warts, and on average, women need about 8 weeks or so of treatment while men require a bit more, usually around 12 weeks.

This genital wart cream is considered as being extremely effective, and not only that but it is also one of the least uncomfortable and painful treatment methods available. The main disadvantage to this and other genital wart cream for that matter is that there are often reports of it causing itching, redness, and soreness, and a lot of people need to be taken off of it after only a few weeks. The most important thing of all is that if you ever notice any growths of any kind around your genital or mouth area that you notify your doctor at once so that they can determine whether it is genital warts or not, and either way find proper treatment for you.

For information related health care medical and related jobs visit http://www.idohealthcare.com/

About the Author: Roger Thompson writes for Leading Leading Portal for health care, medical, biotech and hospital jobs

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How Do I Know If I Have Genital Herpes?By Robert Green

Despite the fact that millions of Americans are living with genital herpes, the disease can be surprisingly difficult to detect in some cases. However, many people with genital herpes have at least some detectable signs.

The most obvious sign of genital herpes is the appearance of red bumps in and/or around the genital area, often starting around two weeks after the initial exposure to herpes. The bumps may spread to the anus and/or surrounding skin, and in some cases also develop within the vagina and/or urinary tract. These bumps turn into blisters, which in turn become sores. Often these sores become encrusted and very itchy; after a period of time, however, they will clear up. An outbreak can involve a large number of sores, but can just as easily involve just a single one.

Because genital herpes is incurable, these outbreaks will recur over time. Certain medications are available to increase the length of time in-between herpes outbreaks.

Other symptoms of genital herpes may or may not accompany an outbreak. These include a reddening and/or sudden extreme dryness of the genital area; a burning, itching, and/or painful sensation in the genital area; vaginal discharge; difficulty urinating; headache; fever; and/or swollen glands.

The most difficult aspect of genital herpes, and a large contributor to its spread, is that the herpes virus can remain inactive in many individuals and never cause them to show any signs or symptoms of the condition. However, they are still able to spread genital herpes to others. Many times the symptoms of genital herpes are confused with other conditions, such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and even ingrown hairs.

While it’s important to know and be able to recognize the symptoms of genital herpes, you should always seek an official diagnosis from a medical professional if you are at all concerned that you may have contracted the disease. Only they will be able to say for certain whether your symptoms are the result of herpes. If you do have genital herpes, they can provide you with medication and important information necessary to handle the condition.

If you are currently experiencing an outbreak of genital herpes, a doctor can diagnose your condition visually. A blood test or a viral culture can also check for the herpes simplex virus, although results can be vague and/or inaccurate in many cases. Two different strains of the herpes simplex virus lead to genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The former, HSV-1, can indicate any form of herpes, including mouth sores, and does not necessarily translate into a genital herpes diagnosis. However, HSV-2 is almost always linked to genital herpes, and is a more reliable sign of the disease.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and you should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.

About the Author: Robert Green knows that 1 in 5 Americans has Genital Herpes. For more information on symptoms and what to do visit: http://www.Genital-Herpes-Solutions.com.

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