Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are very common. The symptoms and signs of STDs vary widely, though many are similar from one STD to another. STDs require follow-up by a health care professional for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Some of the more common STDs include HIV, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, chancroid, HPV, mycoplasma, pubic lice and hepatitis.
HIV
Chronic infection with the human immunodeficiency virus lowers the ability of the immune system to fight off disease and results in opportunistic infections. While the symptoms of chronic HIV infection are due to infections with other organisms, acute HIV infection causes its own symptoms. This primary HIV syndrome tends to appear several weeks after infection. A 2002 article in the "Southern Medical Journal" notes that fever occurs eighty percent of the time. Swollen lymph nodes, skin rash, sore throat, joint pains and headaches occur 40 to 80 percent of the time. Ten to 40 percent of the time symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, oral and genital ulcers.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite and is found in the vagina, cervix and urethra. It causes itching, irritation and a frothy, yellow to green discharge from the vagina. In addition trichomoniasis causes burning with urination and pain with intercourse in females. Males may have no noticeable symptoms, but can have mild discomfort in the penis with urination or ejaculation or slight burning.
Chlamydia
Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. Chlamydia may affect the genitals, throat or rectum. It may cause pain with urination, discharge from the penis and vagina, lower abdomen pain and a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, which is general inflammation of the reproductive tract in females; this can cause infertility. If in the throat or rectum, it can cause inflammation, pain, discharge and bleeding.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea presents similarly to chlamydia. There may be no symptoms or it may lead to painful urination and vaginal or penile discharge which may be white, yellow or green. It may also result in pelvic inflammatory disease in females and swollen testicles in men. Like chlamydia, gonorrhea may also cause rectal or throat infections.
Herpes
Herpes can affect the mucous membranes of the mouth, genitals or anus. It causes painful recurrent blisters or sores, but the severity may be variable. It may also cause fever and swollen lymph nodes. Recurrences may be around half a dozen in the first year and decrease somewhat after that.
Syphilis
Syphilis is symptomatic in three states. In the primary stage a painless ulcer or ulcers develop on the penis or vagina. Symptoms of the secondary stage include a skin rash and mucous membrane sores. The rash can be anywhere on the skin, but unlike most rashes, it may also be found on the palms or soles. Other symptoms may include flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headaches, loss of appetite and muscle aches. In addition, there may be a sore throat, swollen lymph glands and hair loss. In the third stage, the disease spreads to the organs, affecting the brain, joints, cardiovascular system, liver and others.
Chancroid
According to the New York State Department of Health, the first symptom of chancroid is the appearance of sores or raised bumps on the genitals, which have a red border which becomes filled with pus. It eventually ruptures to leave a painful sore. Half of the time the bacteria infect the lymph nodes around the genitals, making them enlarged and painful, and they too may rupture.
HPV
Most cases of human papilloma virus, known as HPV, are without symptoms. However, some strains of HPV can lead to genital warts and some strains lead to cancer. Genital warts may be small or large and are generally painless.
Mycoplasma Genitalium
Most people infected with Mycoplasma genitalium are without symptoms. It may cause pain with urination. It also may be associated with inflammation of the cervix and uterus and may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Pubic Lice and Scabies
Pubic lice are short, about 1.5 mm in length, and attach to the hair in the pubic area. Scabies burrows into the skin and usually causes red lines. The main symptom for both of these parasites is itchiness.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis causes liver disease which may progress to jaundice, decrease appetite, abdominal pain and lethargy. It can also lead to liver failure and cancer.
References
- "Southern Medical Journal"; Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Taiwo, Hicks; 2002
- 4Parents.gov: Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Center for Disease Control: STD
- New York State Department of Health: chancroid (soft chancre)
- "American Journal of Public Health"; Mycoplasma genitalium Among Young Adults in the United States; Manhart et al.; June 2007
