Symptoms of an STD that need revision

Do you know the symptoms that an STD can cause? The STDs are diseases that are transmitted through sexual contact. This includes contact with blood, semen, vaginal fluid or other bodily fluids. Sometimes, these infections are transmitted through non-sexual routes, such as:

• From mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth.
• Needles shared without sterilization, common transmission route between drug addicts.
• Blood transfusions without an adequate study of the clinical history of the patient who makes the donation.

The problem is that many are unaware that they have contracted these types of infections, since they do not always have obvious clinical manifestations. For the above, it is important to learn about the possible symptoms of an STD and, of course, consult an expert in case of suffering them.

About sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

• The organisms that cause these infections are viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. Among the most common are: chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV / AIDS and genital herpes.
• Antibiotics, antifungals, fungicides and antiparasitics can treat and cure diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and parasites.
• Currently there is no drug that is capable of curing STDs caused by viruses, but there are medications that can alleviate the symptoms and keep the disease under control. Thus, the use of condoms is very important, both male and female, to reduce the risk of infection.
• There is no way to imply sexual contact, which totally avoids the risk of infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other types of microorganisms. The best way to prevent them is with the use of condoms.

Symptoms of an STD

There are a series of symptoms generally common to all sexually transmitted diseases, such as: itching or genital burning, altered vaginal discharge, pain during sexual contact, bad smell or discomfort. But nevertheless, distinguish symptoms according to the most common STDs, will make it easier to detect and later treat.

Read more: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), what are we talking about?

1. Symptoms of Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of the genital tract. If not treated properly it can cause more serious infections, as well as scarring of the fallopian tubes in women and prostatitis and epididymitis in men. However, it is usually easy to heal if it is detected early.

Sometimes, chlamydia does not show symptoms detectable or infected people may confuse them with other more everyday diseases. Therefore, it is important that if you have maintained a risky sexual relationship, that is, without protection, go to your health center to perform the relevant tests. Among the characteristic symptoms of this infection, include the following:

• Painful urination
• In women, atypical vaginal discharge.
• Bleeding between menstrual periods.
• Abnormal discharge in the penis
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Pain in intimate contact.
• Sensitivity or inflammation in the testicles.
• Secretion or bleeding around the anus.

2. Symptoms of gonorrhea

Like chlamydia, gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium, therefore The drugs indicated for its treatment are antibiotics. Although it is a disease of the genital tract, it can also occur in the mouth, anus, throat and eyes.

Generally, the first signs of infection appear ten days after infection, however, sometimes it may lack symptoms, so that weeks or months pass until we are aware of the infection. Among the key signs for the detection of this infection, we highlight the following:

• Thick or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina.
• Inflammation and pain of the testicles.
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Frequent and painful urination.

Some of the symptoms of STDs can be confused with those of urinary tract infections or the reproductive system. For this reason, it is important to request medical attention.

3. Symptoms of HIV

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. Its infection causes the virus to multiply in the body, damaging the immune system. AIDS, is a chronic disease, caused by HIV, which appears when the immune system is too weak and no treatment has been received to control the infection, as well as when an opportunistic infection is contracted, as a reason for the descent of CD4 cells (T lymphocytes).

A person can be a carrier of this virus and not have the disease, nor have their associated symptoms. We will differentiate the symptoms according to the time elapsed since the infection:

Initial symptoms of HIV

These symptoms usually disappear in a few weeks and can be confused with the typical signs of any viral illness, like flu or colds. These signs include:

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Diarrhea.
• Rashes.
• Swelling of the lymph nodes.
• Cough and respiratory difficulties.

Read more: Myths and truths about HIV and AIDS

Late symptoms of HIV

The most persistent symptoms may take years to appear after infection. As the virus multiplies and deteriorates the immune system, the symptoms of HIV infection in advanced stage will appear:

• Persistent fatigue
• Night sweats and chills with tremors.
• Swelling of the lymph nodes over a prolonged period.
• Chronic diarrhea.
• Persistent headaches
• Opportunistic and unusual infections.

In conclusion…

It is important to keep in mind that the symptoms of an STD can vary in each patient, depending on the type of infection and the level of response of their organism. However, in addition to the STDs mentioned, which are usually the most common, the person could be having another type of sexually transmitted infection.

Therefore, in order to attend to it in an appropriate and timely manner, it is best to go to the doctor as soon as the symptoms are perceived. In this way, the professional can evaluate the symptoms and perform the relevant tests for an accurate diagnosis.