VIRAL HEPATITIS

VIRAL HEPATITIS:
     Inflammation or swelling of the liver due to viral infection. It can lead to scarring, called Cirrhosis, liver failure or to liver cancer. Several different viruses, named the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.


CAUSES:
     
    Hepatitis A:
          Caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), a picornavirus. It causes an acute form of hepatitis and does not have a chronic stage.

     Hepatitis B:
         Caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), a hepadnavirus that can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis.

     Hepatitis C:
         Caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV), an RNA virus that is a member of the Flaviviridae family.

     Hepatitis D:
          Caused by hepatitis D virus (HDV) or Hepatitis Delta Virus. It can propagate only in the presence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

     Hepatitis E:
          Caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), from the Hepeviridae family, produces symptoms similar to HAV.
   

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

• Unprotected sexual contact (including oral, vaginal and anal sex for both men and women)
• Unhygienic tattooing
• Bodily fluids including, saliva, semen, urine, vaginal fluids
• Contaminated food and water
• Injecting drug users
• Blood transfusions
• Mother to child transmission during pregnancy and at birth  

 SYMPTOMS:

• jaundice, which causes a yellowing of the skin and eyes
• fatigue
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• low grade fever
• headache 

*However, some people do not have symptoms    

PREVENTION:
    
     Viral Hepatitis is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
     Practicing clean and safe environment to avoid food and water contamination.
     Avoid using used needles, razors and toothbrushes by other person.
     
      
Treatment:
    
     Examination is important if infected with any viral Hepatitis.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of viral Hepatitis
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddieases/pubs/viralhepatitis

SYPHILIS

SYPHILIS:
     
      A sexually transmitted infection often called the "Great Imitator" by Sir William Osler because Syphilis symptoms resemble those of other common diseases. It has also been called as "Miss Siff" and "The Pox". It can be easily treated on early stage. It is present in 4 different stages: Primary, Secondary, Latent and Tertiary but it may also occur congenitally during pregnancy and at birth. 

CAUSES:
     
     Syphilis is caused by the spirochete bacteruim Treponema pallidum. Treponema pallidum causes 3 other human diseases namely: yaws (subspecies pertenue), pinta (subspecies carateum) and bejel (subspecies endemicum) but it do not cause neurological disease.
    
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: 

      Syphilis can be visible in the mouth (lips and tongue), genitals, anus of both male and female and other body parts

• sexual contact (including oral, vaginal and anal sex)
• Congenital Syphilis can be pass by the mother to her unborn child during pregnancy and at birth
•  contacting with the broken skin of an infected person
•  it can be transmitted during the first 3 stages: Primary, Secondary and Latent stage

SYMPTOMS:
      
      Primary:
          Begins after infection by direct sexual contact with infectious lesions of another person. It usually takes between 2 to 6 weeks for symptoms to manifest. Produce a painless ulceration called chancre visible on lips, tongue, breats (nipple), fingers, penis, vagina and anus. Sometimes, the chancres grow inside the genitals making it hard to diagnose. Sores will disappear within a few  weeks without treatment. Primary Syphilis can be transmitted and if not treated, secondary stage occurs within 2 to 6 weeks.


     Secondary:
          Begins 3 to 10 weeks after the disappearance of chancres. Symmetrical, reddish-pink, non-itchy rashes will appear on soles of hands and feet. It can also spread to cover the body or it may be limited to certain areas. The rash may become maculopapular or pustular. It may form flat, broad whitish, wart-like lesions known as condyloma latum on mocous membranes. Following the eruption of mucous sores may be visible on the mouth, around the genitalia and rectum. Fever, sore throat, weight loss, hair loss, headache and discomfort on mucles and joints may develop. This stage is extremely contagious and may also be spread by kissing if there are sores in the mouth, avoid skin to skin contact with an infected person. Symptoms of this stage may disappear without treatment. if left untreated, it may reoccur for up to 2 years before it progress to Latency stage.

•  The first 2 stages are known as early stage of Syphilis 

      Latent:
          During the Latency Period, all symptoms will disappear. Some people remain in the latent stage for many years. However, the bacteria still to replicate and it is extremely contagious. It is important to seek treatment even if the symptoms have stopped. Latency Period can still be treated.


     Tertiary:
          Tertiary stage can last for decades and is more difficult to treat but treatment is still an option. Although it is not contagious, it can be extremely damaging to the infected person. Symptoms become more dangerous to the body and can include damage to the joints, weakening of the bones, gradual blindness, heart disease and liver disease. Tertiary stage may be divided into 3 different forms:
          Gummatous syphilis characterized by the formation of chronic gummas, which are soft tumor-like balls of inflammation which may vary considerable in size. They typically affect the skin, bone and liver but can occur anywhere including saddle nose deformation.
          Neurosyphilis refers to the infection of the central nervous system. in the form of syphilitic meningitis or late menigovascular syphilis, general paresis with dementia or tabes dorsalis. Late neurosyphilis typically occurs 4 to 25 years after the initial infection.
          Cardiovascular syphilis usually occurs 10-30 years after the initial infection. Syphilitic aortitis is the most common complication, which may result in aneurysm.
  

     Congenital Syphilis:
          Occurs during pregnancy and birth. some syphilitic infants are born without symptoms. Common symptoms that then develop over first couple years of life including: hepatosplenomegaly, rash. fever, neurosyphilis and pneumonitis. if left untreated, late congenital syphilis may occur including: saddle nose formation, Higoumenakis sign, saber shin, or Clutton's joint among others.
 

     Other Conditions:
          Syphilis if left untreated may cause serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes, nervous system, bones and joints. It can result in dementia, lack of control over movements, partial or complete blindness, aneurysm and death. Another possible consequence is an increase risk of HIV infection (virus that causes AIDS) because of the open sores.
    

PREVENTION:
    
     Syphilis is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected. 
     Avoiding skin to skin contact to the sores of infected person.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      

Treatment:

     Syphilis may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors. 
     Follow up examination is important
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Syphilis
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STI's
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org 
www.nlm.nih.gov/medicineplus

GRANULOMA INGUINALE

GRANULOMA INGUINALE:
     Granuloma inguinale is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterial infection, characterized by ulcerative genital lesions. This sexually transmitted infection causes bumps and blisters to form on the genitalia, which, if left untreated, can destroy genital tissues and organs. It is also known as "donovanosis, granuloma genitoinguinale, granuloma inguinale tropicum, granuloma venereum, granuloma venereum genitoinguinale, lupoid form of groin ulceration, serpiginous ulceration of the groin, ulcerating granuloma of the pudendum and ulcerating sclerosing granuloma."

CAUSES:
      The infection is caused by the bacteria "Klebsiella granulomatis", used to be called "Calymmatobacterium granulomatis."
    
MODE OF TRANSMISSION:  

• Unprotected sexual contact (including, vaginal, anal and Very rarely during oral sex)
• Spreads from one host to another through contact with the open sores (by touching the sores)
• Can be passed by the mother to her baby by vaginal childbirth 
• having multiple sex partners
• being male (men are twice as likely to contract granuloma inguinale)
• being between the ages of 20 and 40

SYMPTOMS:
   
     Small, painless nodules appear after about 10–40 days of the contact with the bacteria. Later the nodules burst, creating open, fleshy, oozing lesions. The infection spreads, mutilating the infected tissue. The infection will continue to destroy the tissue until treated. The lesions occur at the region of contact typically found on the shaft of the penis, the labia, or the perineum. Rarely, the vaginal wall or cervix is the site of the lesion.

• rectal discomfort
• diarrhea
• upset stomach
• About half of infected men and women have sores in the anal area.
• Small, beefy-red bumps appear on the genitals (penis on male, vagina / labia on female) and around the anus.
• The skin gradually wears away, and the bumps turn into raised, beefy-red, velvety nodules called granulation tissue. They are usually painless, but they bleed easily if injured.
•  The disease slowly spreads and destroys genital tissue.
•  Tissue damage may spread to the area where the legs meet the torso. This area is called the inguinal folds.
•  The genitals and the skin around them lose skin color.

     In its early stages, it may be hard to tell the difference between donovanosis, chancroid and syphilis, however, after a few weeks they begin to change in size and appearance. The bumps gradually increase in size and begin to eat away at the genital tissue, causing scarring and destruction..

     In the later stages, donovanosis may look like advanced genital cancers, lymphogranuloma venereum, and anogenital cutaneous amebiasis.

     If left untreated, granuloma inguinale can cause some serious health complications, including:
   
    Genital damage and scarring
    Permanent genital swelling due to scarring
    Loss of skin color in genital area
    Swelling of the subcutaneous tissue in the groin region
     
  
PREVENTION:
    
     Granuloma Inguinale is spread by sexual contact with an infected person. Avoiding all forms of sexual activity is the only absolute way to prevent from being infected.
     However, safe sex practices may reduce your risk. The proper use of latex condoms, either the male or female type, greatly decreases the risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. You need to wear the condom from the beginning to the end of each sexual activity.
      
Treatment:

     Granuloma Inguinale may be treated with the right medicines prescribed by the doctors it may take up to 3 weeks until the sore is completely healed. 
     Follow up examination is important because it may reappear after it seems to be cured.
     Treatment failure is possible with HIV co-infection and extended therapy is sometimes required.
     
IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Do not self-medicate on any kind of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Have yourself tested if you have symptoms of Granuloma Inguinale
• If you had sexual contact with a person known to have STIs.
• If you are engaging in high-risk sexual practices.

PROGNOSIS:

     Prognosis is excellent with proper treatment. Treating sexual contacts of affected individual helps break cycle of infection.









Sources:
Fishbein's Illustarted Medical and Health Encyclopedia
www.wikipedia.org
www.epigee.org 
www.nlm.nih.gov/medicineplus