- Infections transmitted through sexual intercourse
- Person may be infected, but has no signs and symptoms of association with a disease
- Spread by all forms of sexual contact when an infected person’s body fluids get in contact with mucosal membranes
Syphilis §
- Caused by bacteria
- Symptoms:
- Chancre (Painless sore) appears where bacteria entered
- Lymph nodes swell around area of infection
- Non-itchy body rashes, which may develop into infections lesions
- Paralysis, blindness, death
- Treatment with antibiotics is effective in early stages
- Can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth
- Rashes
- Widely spaced teeth
- Deformity in the nose
Gonorrhoea §
- Caused by bacteria
- Symptoms:
- Pus discharge from penis or vagina
- Painful burning sensation during urination
- Swilling/pain in testes for men &lower abdominal pain for women
- If not treated, it may spread to other reproductive organs, leading to sterility
- Treatment with antibiotics is effective if treated early
- Bacteria is unable to pass through placenta but can be passed from mother to child during childbirth
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) §
- Caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Kills and infects white blood cells (helper T cells) that produces antibodies
- May show no symptoms for up to 10 years as white blood cell count slowly drops
- Some syndromes:
- Persistent fever
- Severe diarrhoea lasting for months
- Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Pneumonia and widespread tuberculosis affecting many organs simultaneously
- Swelling of lymph nodes
- Can pass through placenta
- Anti-viral drugs can only slow down progression, but cannot cure it