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... latin lesions. The use of a condom during sexual intercourse can assist in this, but a condom will not protect other exposed surfaces. Genital herpes is rapidly gaining attention as an STD. One reason is that thousands of new cases are being identified each year. Another reason is a lack of any known cure.
Herpes simplex virus type 2, because it is viral, makes antibiotic drugs useless in treating the symptoms and eliminating infection from the body. In most cases, the herpes sore blisters and a crust forms on the genitals and heal and disappear on their own in a few days or weeks. The virus itself, however, stays in a dormant stage: the absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean the absence of active virus. Herpes may flair up from time to time, causing the sores to reappear. These sores are usually visible and painful in both sexes however, signs of herpes in women can be internal and painless. It is possible for women to be unaware of the virus's presence.
It is not well understood what triggers reoccurrence's of herpes. Towered resistance, other infections, chafing or irritation of the affected area, emotional upset, and even certain foods are implicated to some extent. Herpes victims are advised to be especially conscientious about controlling stress factors that may aggravate the dormant HSV- 2 organism. It is advised that a condom be used during intercourse to provide protection for the uninfected partner.
The person who follows a well-balanced fitness routine should experience minimal life disruptions resulting from herpes. Women who have herpes need to take a few extra precautions. There is an association between HSV- 2 infection and the development of cervical cancer. A woman with herpes may be advised to have pap tests more frequently and watch for any unusual vaginal bleeding. Because of the danger of infecting the newborn infant, women who know they have herpes should share that information with their doctor.
There is no cure for genital herpes at this time. Some relief of symptoms is available using topical ointments. Chlamydia trachomatis is a common STD in the U. S.
This organism, an intracellular parasite, is responsible for more than one disease condition. Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) and lympho granuloma venereal (LGV) are among these conditions. NGU involves an inflammation of the urethra. If symptoms are present, they may resemble those of gonorrhea. Chlamydia currently accounts for approximately fifty percent of NGU cases. Transmission of NGU, however is probable during sexual intercourse, and transfer from mother to infant at birth is also possible.
To tell the difference between NGU and gonorrhea, cultures of smears or discharged must be examined in a laboratory. The treatment for NGU is tetracycline. The most severe complication of NGU in females is PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). This condition often leads to infertility.
NGU can be controlled by using condoms during sexual intercourse, washing the genitals with soap and water before and after intercourse, and contacting sex partners when infection presents itself. Trachomatis is also responsible for LGV. Symptoms include sores in the genital area that resemble pimples. It is most commonly seen among gay men and people having multiple sex partners.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with lesions, usually during sexual intercourse. Complications from LGV are rare, though inflammation of the urethra, cervix, and rectum are possible Tetracycline provides reliable therapy for this STD. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Over time, the HIV virus weakens the immune system by infecting and killing certain white blood cells. It is only after the immune system is significantly weakened that people with HIV get one or more infections. Before this happens, there are essentially no symptoms or signs that indicate that somebody is infected with HIV.
It is estimated that over a million Americans are infected with HIV. Over twenty million people are infected worldwide. This disease was first thought to infect only homosexuals and IV drug users who share needles, but it is clear that anybody exchanging bodily fluids can get this infection. Most of the continual spread of HIV is caused by unprotected heterosexual sex, followed by homosexual sex, IV drug use, and transmission to a baby by an infected mother. The signs & symptoms of HIV and AIDS are very different depending on how damaged ones immune system has become. When somebody initially gets exposed and infected by HIV, they often have flu-like symptoms.
These symptoms go away, and most people have no idea they have this infection until they are diagnosed with a blood test or they develop an opportunistic infection or unusual cancer. The most common opportunistic infections include Candida albicans, a throat and body infection, Pneumocystis carinii, pneumonia, Toxoplasmosis creates brain infection, Cryptococcus is a brain and body infection, Tuberculosis infects the lungs and body, and Cytomegalovirus is an eye and body infection. The most common cancer associated with AIDS is called Kaposi's sarcoma. Many other infections such as herpes, HPV, Streptococcal pneumonia, and Salmonella occur in people with AIDS. The diagnosis is made by a blood test that finds antibodies against HIV, meaning that if you have been exposed to the virus your body has developed an immune response and is making antibodies in an attempt to fight off the infection. Many times, people first learn they have AIDS when they go to their doctor with one of the common opportunistic infections or Kaposi's sarcoma.
Currently there is no cure for HIV infection. Treatment is geared towards both controlling the virus and treating the opportunistic infections. Many new and exciting anti-viral medications have had good success in slowing down the progression of HIV infection by preventing the virus from multiplying. Medications such as AZT, ddI, ddC, and the newer protease-inhibitors have gotten a lot of press since HIV was defined.
Newer, less toxic, and better medications are continually being introduced and even more are on the way. Vaccine studies are underway both for those uninfected and those already infected. Taking good care of oneself also seems crucial in preventing the rapid progression of HIV. Pregnant women who have HIV infection should be treated with medicine during their pregnancy and at delivery as this has been clearly proven to reduce the rate of transmitting the infection to the baby.
STDs are among the most common infections known. More than 12 million people in the United States, including 3 million teenagers, are infected with STDs every year. The United States has the highest STD rate in the industrialized world, about one in ten Americans will contract an STD during his or her lifetime. 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 STDs can be cured with a single dose of antibiotics, but many, such as AIDS, cannot be cured. People with these diseases remain infected for their entire lives until they die. Dont let it happen to you.
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Research essay sample on Infected With Hiv Opportunistic Infections
