Explaining the meaning of STI

Read the following story.

 

Alicia is a young girl in Kabut village. She neither listens to the advice of her parents nor her seniors. She has a boyfriend who lives in the city. During the holidays, her boyfriend comes to the village to visit her and they have unprotected sex. When her boyfriend goes back to the city, she sleeps with other men in the village even though she has been warned several times against this habit by her peers and neighbours. Recently Alicia fell sick.

When she went to see the doctor, the doctor told her that she had contracted a sexually transmitted infection.

 

Answer the following questions.

 

 1. From the story, what would you say a sexually transmitted
infection is?

  2. How can one get sexually transmitted infections?

 

- STIs are (Sexually transmitted infections) also called STDs (Sexually transmitted diseases).

- During sexual contact, diseases can pass from one person to another through the exchange of body fluids.

- Body fluids include blood, saliva, seminal and vaginal fluids.

- These are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual intercourse.

- They mainly affect the genitals (sexual organs).

- Some of the sexually transmitted infections or diseases are:

• Gonorrhoea
• Syphilis
• Chancroid
• HIV/AIDS

- These diseases are identified through their signs and symptoms.

- Signs are the things or conditions that can be observed that indicate the presence of a disease.

- Symptoms are feelings or changes in the body that indicate illness. 

 

Things to note:

  1. The sexually transmitted infections do not show signs easily in some  people especially women.

  2. Many STIs have no obvious symptoms of illness. 

  3. Most sexually transmitted diseases can be treated and prevented.

  4. HIV/AIDS has no cure.

 

The causes, symptoms, signs and control measures of STIs 

 Syphilis

     Cause : Bacteria (a small living organism)

      Signs and symptoms :

• Sores on or in the genitals
• Rashes on the skin
• Pain in joints, sore throat, mild fever
• The infection advances into heart diseases, paralysis, blindness, insanity and eventually death if not detected and treated in time Transmission 

 

Sexual intercourse Control :

• Avoid sex
• Married people should only have sex with their partners
• Prompt treatment if infected
• Infected people should avoid sex until they are completely cured.
• Take full dose of the medicine given by the doctor

 

Gonorrhoea

      Cause : Bacteria (a small living organism)

      Signs and symptoms :

      Male

• Pain when passing urine
• Pus comes out of penis
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Fever

     Female

• A little pain when passing urine and pus from vagina
• Pain in the lower abdomen, menstrual period problems, she may become sterile
• Pregnant mothers pass it to foetus leading to child’s blindness

   Sexual intercourse Control :

•  Avoid sex
•  Infected people should not have sex until they are treated
•  Taking the full dose of medicine given by the doctor
•  Married people should only have sex with their partners

 

Chancroid

      Cause : Bacteria

      Signs and symptoms :

          • Soft and painful sores on the genitals

          • Swollen glands in the groin

      Transmission Sexual intercourse Control :

           • Avoid sexual intercourse

           • Married people should only have sex with their partners

 

 HIV/AIDS

    Cause : Virus

     Signs and symptoms 

• Vomiting and diarrhoea, tuberculosis, coughing, skin rashes, mouth sores and many other diseases
• Death

 

    Transmission via Sexual intercourse

•  Blood transfusion Control :
•  Use of condom
•  Avoid sex
•  Avoid sharing piercing instruments like needles or sharp instruments like razors,Sterilizing piercing and sharp instruments,

 

Syllabus hint

At this level, you are not required to know the specific bacteria or viruses that cause sexually transmitted diseases by name.

The syllabus only requires you to be able to name the various STIs, their causes, signs and symptoms and their control measures.

Topic Review

In this topic we have learned about Sexually transmitted  infections (STIs)

   What is the meaning of sexually transmitted infection?

   How does one get sexually transmitted infections?

   Some common examples of sexually transmitted infections include:

       • syphilis

       • gonorrhoea

       • chancroid

       • HIV and AIDS.