Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc.

On Sexually Transmitted Infections:

What are Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

What are the types of STIs?

What are the general principles as with regards to STIs?

What is the relationship of STI with HIV/AIDS?

What are the other classifications of STIs?

What are the classifications of STI according to Modes of transmission?

What are Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

These are infections obtained by having unprotected sexual intercourse with a partner who has the infection. Sexual exposure may either be oral, vaginal-penile intercourse, anal penile intercourse. There are other STI that can be obtained through other means such as blood transfusion or by mere body contacts or through "fomites". One has to know how to prevent getting these infections.

What are the types of STIs?

STIs are classified according to the following:
a) Discharge syndromes - those that produces discharge. Eg. Gonorrhea, non gonococcal urethritis, post gonoccocal urethritis, vaginitis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis
b) Ulcerative syndromes- those infections that produces papular or skin ulcer lesions eg.herpes simplex, syphillis and chancroid
c) Non ulcerative syndromes - eg. Scabies, venereal warts, crab lice
d) Others - eg. Hepatitis B, Infections mononucleosis, and HIV/AIDS

The following table shows you the difference among the different STIs:

A. Discharge (Tulo)

Type	Incubation Period	Causative Agent	Signs and Symptoms
1. Gonorrhea	2-7 days	Neisseria gonorrhea	vaginal & urethral discharge foul-smelling, yellow to yellow green, possibly pus-like, thick areas affected : urethra, anus, throat, vagina, joints, eyes
2. Non-gonoccal urethritis (NGU), Post-gonoccal urethritis (PGU)	10-14 days	Chlamydia trachomatis	itchiness, urethral discharge whitish, mucoid/less in quatity areas affected : urethra, eyes, vagina, throat, anus
3. Vaginitis	3-7 days	Gardnella	opaque-white discharge
4. Candidiasis/ Moniliasis	7-10 days	C Albicans yeast (fungus)	itchiness, white-cheesy, curd-like vaginal discharge sweet smelling
5. Trichomoniasis	7-14 days	protozoa	greyish-greenish, frothy, fishy odor, copious discharges strawberry cervix

B. Ulcerative

Type	Incubation Period	Causative Agent	Signs and Symptoms
1. Syphilis	9-90 days	Treponema pallidum	1st stage : chancre (firm, hard, painless ulcer, oval/round, well-delineated, usually solitary, heals in 2-6 weeks (with or without treatment) 2nd stage : rash on body (not itchy), areas affected: follicles, mucous areas; lymphadenopathy,"flu-like" can be latent for years 3rd stage: gumma, aneurysm, neurosyphilis (may cause stroke); may affect heart, brain (meningitis), bones; can be fatal
2. Herpes simplex	2-10 days	Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) oral-facial, Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) -genital	multiple, painful shallow ulcers (cold sores) affected areas: genitals, face, fingers, eyes, brain
3. Chancroid	3-10 days	Haemophilus ducreyi	soft & tender ulcer painful, dirty-grey ulcers painful & enlarged lymphnodes (buboes)

C. Non-Ulcerative

Type	Incubation Period	Causative Agent	Signs and Symptoms
1. Scabies	7-10 days	Sarcoptes scabiei	"galis-aso" itchiness at night
2. Venereal warts	7-10 days	Human papilloma virus (type 6&11)	"kulugo" warts in genitals
3. Crab lice	7-10 days	Phthiuris pubis	itchiness nits ("jkuto sa buhok sa ari") reddish brown pinpoint marks/bite marks

D. Others

Type	Incubation Period	Causative Agent	Signs and Symptoms
1. Hepatitis B	6 weeks - 6 months	Hepatitis B virus	jaundice, abdominal pains, chalk-colored stools "flu-like"
2. Infectious mononucleosis	7-10 days	Epstein Barr virus	kissing disease flu-like symptoms
3. AIDS	3-12 years	HIV	depending on opportunistic infections that set in

What are the general principles as with regards to STIs?

Co-infections are common
An individual may have more than one form of STI Investigate.

No single STI can be regarded as an isolated problem.
An infected partner always exists!
The sexual history and the management of the sexual partners are of imminent importance.

Self-medication leads to resistance to antibiotics and complicates what would have been a simple treatment.

What is the relationship of STI with HIV/AIDS?

STIs and HIV

STIs give reference to sexual behavior.
STIs serve as co-factors to HIV (genital ulcers, history of STD increase probability of acquiring HIV)
STIs provide an environment that is favorable for HIV.
STIs complicate treatment plan of a PWA.

HIV and STIs