Use A Condom Or Suffer From NonGonococcal Urethritis

April 8, 2008

STDs are often transmitted through direct contact with the skin even if condoms are used. This can happen because bacterial and viral germs, which cause STDs like papilloma, Chlamydia, herpes and syphilis, do not affect only one part of the body. They can infect any place in the genital area in the case of both men and women.

NonGonococcal urethritis is an infection of the urethra set off by the same pathogens that cause gonorrhoea. This infection is generally caused by a microbe called Chlamydia. This disease affects men more frequently because it is seldom that a woman’s urethra gets infected during an intercourse. Men in the ages of 15-30, who have multiple sex partners, are the ones more at risk of this infection. More often than not, the disease happens because of unprotected sex.

The disease rarely happens because of other causes. Some of the symptoms of this disease are burning sensation and pain while urination; sometimes, small leakage from the urethra appears. The symptoms manifest normally in 1 to 5 weeks from exposure. On the other hand, some people never develop any apparent symptoms.

The infected person can infect other people as soon as he contracts the disease up to the time he gets cured. There is a possibility that disease will recur. This disease can lead to the swelling of the testicles and infection of the prostate if not immediately treated. Use a condom and wash the genital area after intercourse to reduce the possibility of infection. Reducing the number of your sexual partners could also be a great idea to avoid this infection. Australian researchers of the Sexual Health Centre in Melbourne published an article in the Journal of Infectious Disease of their findings that oral sex could also cause nongonococcal urethritis, saying further that this infection can affect both men and women. Some of the consequences of this illness to women are development of inflammatory pelvic disease, sterility and recurring pelvic pains. In majority of the occurrences, the cause of nongonococcal urethritis cannot be established.

The Chlamydia micro-organism causes the disease in 30-50% of the cases; while in 10-20% of the occurrences, mycoplasma genitalium sets off the disease. Antibiotics have been proven effective in curing this disease.

On March 2004 and March 2005 the Australian researchers in Melbourne conducted a study wherein men previously infected with nongonococcal urethritis participated in. Additionally 307 volunteers who had no symptoms also participated. They all answered a questionnaire regarding their sexual activities and samples of urine were taken to be tested for pathogens that cause the disease.

Chlamydia infections were the most common both in the case of homosexual and heterosexual men (22% respectively 15%) and much more common than the control group. Chlamydia and Mycoplasma genitalium infections have been associated first with unprotected vaginal sex or oral sex. Therefore, if you pay enough attention to your fantasies or sex habits you can prevent this disease.

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Lymphogranuloma Venereum - Rare But Deadly Too

April 8, 2008

The Lymphogranuloma Venereum is another kind of a STD. It affects the lymph nodes, and the entire lymphatic system. The infection is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia Trachomatis. The bacterium enters the human body through a break in the skin.

The virus is capable of crossing the epithelial cell layer if it gets into a mucous membrane. When the bacteria enter the skin, it will little by little set off for the lymphatic channels and multiply as soon as it is lodged there. This is not a very common illness, particularly in Europe. Majority of the people who are infected by the bacteria are already suffering from the HIV AIDS.

The numbers show that ever since 2004, 341 people were infected with the bacteria in the United Kingdom, and 80 such cases were reported on the United States of America territory. Because this is a hard to determine diagnosis, the specialists in the field think that the number of infected people is considerably higher than the official reports. The disease is usually transmitted through sexual contact. When the contamination is made this way, the symptoms are at the skin level in the genital area.

Once infected, abscesses will be formed in the genital area, specifically in the lymph nodes. If the bacterium enters the human body through the rectum, then buboes will develop there. Here, the contamination is usually acquired through anal sexual contact. It might also affect the throat, but rarely. In such case, the abscess will appear in the neck area.

The initial stage of the disease is not violent. The primary stage is characterized by genital ulcer, and the pain is not necessarily involved. Women especially do not observe the first stage of the infection, because the initial ulceration takes place in the walls of the vagina. This stands for the primary stage in men as well. It can be healed in a few days, with the condition it is discovered in time.

The disease is signalled by the swelling of the lymph nodes, which can be painless at first. The location of the lymph nodes could also be the area of the infection which causes swelling and thinning of the skin.

As the diseases progresses to the next level, there could be development of more abscesses, strictures and death of cells and the living tissues. Complete healing is possible if the disease could be diagnosed properly and treated early. If the disease is still left untreated, it will consequently move forward to the next stage. Edema and fibrosis could develop, which are the common permanent upshot of the bacteria.

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Prevent NonGonococcal Urethritis - Wear A Condom - It Makes Sense

April 8, 2008

STDs are generally transferred by touching the infected skin, regardless if condoms are used. Why so, because the bacteria and viral germs that causes STD is not localized to a specific part of the body. Some of these STDs are papilloma, Chlamydia, herpes and syphilis. For both men and women, any part of the genital area can be a target of these pathogens.

The urethra can be infected by same type of pathogens that cause gonorrhoea. This infection is called NonGonococcal urethritis, generally caused by a microbe called Chlamydia. This disease is more common in men than women because women’s urethra rarely gets infected during an intercourse.

The disease hardly ever happens due to other causes. The infected person may experience some symptoms such as a feeling of burning and extreme discomfort while urinating. Sometimes a small leakage comes from the urethra. The indications typically appear within 1 to 5 weeks from the first exposure. However, some people do not develop any symptom at all.

The infected person can infect other people as soon as he contracts the disease up to the time he gets cured. There is a possibility that disease will recur. This disease can lead to the swelling of the testicles and infection of the prostate if not immediately treated. Use a condom and wash the genital area after intercourse to reduce the possibility of infection. Reducing the number of your sexual partners could also be a great idea to avoid this infection. Australian researchers of the Sexual Health Centre in Melbourne published an article in the Journal of Infectious Disease of their findings that oral sex could also cause nongonococcal urethritis, saying further that this infection can affect both men and women. Some of the consequences of this illness to women are development of inflammatory pelvic disease, sterility and recurring pelvic pains. In majority of the occurrences, the cause of nongonococcal urethritis cannot be established.

However, it is considered that in 30 - 50% of the cases the Chlamydia microorganism leads to this disease and in 10-20% of the cases, the triggering microorganism is mycoplasma genitalium. This disease can be treated with antibiotics and the results are satisfactory in general.

Three hundred twenty nine who were nongonococcal urethritis positive participated in another study conducted by researchers in Melbourne during the period March 2004 and March 2005. Another set of volunteers who did not show any symptoms also participated. They filled out survey forms about their sexual habits and their urine samples were tested for micro-organisms that cause urethritis.

Chlamydia infections were the most common both in the case of homosexual and heterosexual men (22% respectively 15%) and much more common than the control group. Chlamydia and Mycoplasma genitalium infections have been associated first with unprotected vaginal sex or oral sex. Therefore, if you pay enough attention to your fantasies or sex habits you can prevent this disease.

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Sexual Education Can Prevent Trichomoniasis

April 7, 2008

Trichomoniasis is quite a popular infection, which can be spread relatively quickly, and it can affect about 30% of the women who are active from the sexual point of view and 25% of men in this category. It is an infection, which can affect only genital and urinary areas. They are the urethra in the case of men, and the urethra and the vagina in the case of women

The infection is caused by a microorganism, actually by a microscopic parasite called Trichomonas Vaginalis.

Trichomoniasis can be contracted through vaginal sex and use of contaminated sexual toys which is now in vogue. The disease is not transferable through oral sex. However, use of protection should not be disregarded notwithstanding your sexual preferences.

To continue, you must take into consideration another aspect as well. As it has been proven that the parasite can survive sometime in the outer environment too, the infection can be triggered by contact with infected underwear.

Girls should take precaution when borrowing personal garments such as bathing suits or underpants as they could get infected if the owner of these things is infected. Using other people’s towel, especially for drying the genital area could really be a big risk. It would be much more preferable to be cautious than to acquire the disease and have it treated afterwards.

There is also the risk to transmit the infection from the mother to the baby if it is a girl.

For men, the disease does not produce symptoms most of the time. Thus, it can go on unnoticed. However, this is not a good thing since this could lead to a recurring infection unless treated.

Trichomonas Vaginalis is a parasite, not a microbe or a virus, thus it is not capable of living long outside its natural environment. It could only exist outside the body for an hour or two. In fact, there is a remote possibility of contracting the disease from public bathrooms at hostels as most people are already conscious of this possibility.

The parasite prefers the vaginal environment because it is wet. Some women have between menstruations, abundant secretions and present greater risk for tricomonas infection. Besides, there are other microbes inside the vagina, which usually live there.

Minor traumas can occur during the sexual intercourse. This may result in the development of small lesions which is not felt and noticed. Despite the fact that the men’s urethra is not a site where the parasite can develop, they can also exist there.

Now, you already have a better understanding of the disease and its varying effect on men and women. The disease can infect young women, especially at the start of their sexual life. If the infection happens, there will be a noticeable profuse white or greenish vaginal discharge with a very unpleasant odour. There will be a slight burning sensation, pain and itching with the development of red patches between the legs. Pain will be felt during sex, so you would prefer not to have it. Additionally, it’s possible to develop another complication, called inguinal adenopathy.

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Prevent Pubic Lice - Highly Contagious And Very Itchy!

April 7, 2008

Pediculosis means infestation with lice. Lice are small insects, which are equipped to draw blood for feeding. They live at the skin level, they are highly contagious and the reproduce in large numbers.

There are two types of lice infestation: the pediculosis of the head - the lice lives on the skin of the head, and are oftentimes found at the back of the head and behind the ears. Children are the ones more frequently afflicted, but adults can catch it, especially in they live together in a crowded house.

The second type of pediculosis is the pubic type. Lice are usually located in the pubic area, but they can also affect facial hair, eyebrows, chest hair and scalp hair but very rare.

Body lice lodge and lay eggs on clothes and transfer to the human host when they have to feed. They are blood sucking parasites that are equipped with needle-like mouths. During war or natural calamities lice can be carriers of fatal illnesses like typhoid fever.

Lice are really easy transmittable through personal contact usually. Infestation can be determined by three types of insects, meaning lice. The pubic pediculosis is determined by the mite called Phtirius Pubis. It is transmitted through sexual contact and it is highly contagious; most of the people are contaminated after one single contact with the infected individual.

Still, the insects as well as their eggs can survive on items such as towels or sheets just as long as it takes them to spread to other people. A child diagnosed with this infection can be the victim of a sexual abuse.Lice are very strong and highly contagious, and can be transmitted also through wearing infected people’s hats.

The lice generally cause and allergic reaction on the skin. As they pierce the skin to feed, their saliva causes allergic reaction and develops pus. Development of pus can happen within two days or more, depending on the susceptibility of the person and allergy history.

Reaction can become unbearable if the individual is allergic to the bites and the saliva of the insects.

In pediculosis of the hair, the lice are lodged on the hairs of the head and the nits (eggs) are white, round or oval shaped. They are tightly attached to the shaft of the hair and will not be removed by themselves. Inside the insect, the eggs are brownish, but when are laid, they turn light brown to white.

Pubic lice bites bring about development of rashes or bluish grey macula, flat lesions (maculae cerulea) that could remain in the skin for a long time even after the treatment for infestation has been completed and the lice completely exterminated. The infected individual could likely be infected with other sexually transmitted disease as having pubic peducolosis is one sure sign of infection.

Generally, the lice stay on the clothes rather than on the skin. These insects are very resilient and will not be eradicated by themselves. So it is highly advisable for the infected person to see a specialist for proper treatment.

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Syphilis - Must Be Treated Early To Prevent Long Term Problems

April 6, 2008

Syphilis is an infection as old as the world itself. This disease has taken the lives of people hundreds of years ago, and yet it persists to endanger our lives to this very day. Unawareness and lack of interest are the factors that have kept this disease alive.

Syphilitic infection is of bacterial origin. Bacteria named Treponema Pallidum produce it. About this nasty infection, a few things. First, you should know that the most common transmission way is by sexual contact. Direct contact with the lesions produced by the infection during sexual contact is the main cause.

It can also be spread through other means. One of them is having direct contact with an infected individual’s saliva and other body fluids, such as semen and vaginal secretions.

Nevertheless, there is a nonsexual way of contracting the disease, as it spreads through biting, kisses, or through contaminated instruments or items of any kind. The transmission probability is high, as the statistics show that the contamination risk after having sexual contact with an infected person is as high as 30-50% . One single touch and the bacteria could be spreading.

If we may say so, the debut of the disease is very “discreet”, and it has a slow but certain evolution. If left untreated, this awful disease can have dramatic endings of the evolution. Nowadays, the blood is tested before any blood transfusion of any kind. That means that the risk of infection through blood transfusion should be zero. However, it never hurts to be extra attentive, does it?

Another way of non-sexual transmission of this disease is through congenital transmission wherein the mother transmits the bacteria to her newborn baby.

The symptoms of this disease come in stages and appear in various ways depending on the length of time that has elapsed from the first exposure to the bacteria. There are various phases in its evolution and it progresses unfavourably along the years.

During the development period of the bacteria, which starts from the period of the first exposure, no conceivable clinical or biological symptoms appear. For syphilitic infection, the growth period can go for as long as 90 days.

As the patient unfavourably progresses to the second phase of the infection, all primary symptoms of the disease will disappear. It is during this stage, that the patient will become most contagious because all the bodily fluids like the blood, saliva, vaginal secretions, and seminal fluid, among others will be packed with active treponema organisms.

To determine if the person is infected or not, a blood test has to be conducted and this could also aid in tracing the bacteria. Finally, a microscopic analysis of the fluid from the primary or secondary lesions can diagnose the disease accurately.

Syphilis can be cured as long as the treatment starts right after the exposure. Antibiotics are usually recommended but if the treatment starts when the disease has evolved, there may be permanent damage to the affected organs.

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Syphilis - Treat It Early To Prevent Irreversible Consequences

April 6, 2008

Syphilis is one of the oldest known infections. Although it has been a disease that has infected people for hundreds of years, still it continues to haunt us to this very day. Lack of knowledge and concern could very well be the reason for staying power of this venereal disease.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by treponema palladium spirochete. This terrible affliction is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, resulting from having direct contact with the sores caused by the infection.

The infection can also be transferred through various means. Being exposed to an infected person’s saliva, vaginal secretions, or semen will surely infect a healthy person.

Nevertheless, there is a nonsexual way of contracting the disease, as it spreads through biting, kisses, or through contaminated instruments or items of any kind. The transmission probability is high, as the statistics show that the contamination risk after having sexual contact with an infected person is as high as 30-50% . One single touch and the bacteria could be spreading.

The disease starts off discreetly and develops slowly, but with certainty. In not treated promptly, this dreadful disease could have fatal endings. Today, blood and blood products are supposed to be tested before any transfusion is done and therefore the risk of infection through blood transfusion should be zero. But you and your loved ones should make it a point to check if this is strictly followed. As saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry.

One other mean of transmission of the syphilis is from the mother to the newborn. In case the pregnant woman is infected, she could transmit the bacteria to her son or daughter. This type of contamination is called congenital transmission.

The symptoms of this disease come in stages and appear in various ways depending on the length of time that has elapsed from the first exposure to the bacteria. There are various phases in its evolution and it progresses unfavourably along the years.

During the development period of the bacteria, which starts from the period of the first exposure, no conceivable clinical or biological symptoms appear. For syphilitic infection, the growth period can go for as long as 90 days.

As the patient unfavourably progresses to the second phase of the infection, all primary symptoms of the disease will disappear. It is during this stage, that the patient will become most contagious because all the bodily fluids like the blood, saliva, vaginal secretions, and seminal fluid, among others will be packed with active treponema organisms.

To test the blood, to reveal if there is an infection or not, contributes to tracing the bacteria. The final diagnosis is made by microscopic analysis of the secretions coming from a primary or secondary lesion or other serological tests.

Syphilis is curable provided that treatment is done immediately after the exposure. Normally one dose of penicillin can cure a patient who has had the disease for less than a year. However, if the disease has already developed, affected organs could be damaged permanently.

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Genital Herpes - Do You Have It Or Not?

April 6, 2008

As it is commonly known, genital herpes is a widespread disease infecting the genital area. Infection causes open sores that are highly contagious, infecting men as well as women. It is generally transmitted through sexual contact but could be contracted through other ways as well.

It can be contracted from touching contaminated items like towels, underwear and toilet seats. One can also get it through kissing and in rare cases through oral sex.

This is such because the herpes simplex virus can survive outside the human body for several minutes, so extra caution should be exercised when using public facilities, such as restrooms.

Many of the individuals who carry the disease present no symptoms at all. That is highly dangerous because it cannot warn the healthy individuals about its existence. A large number of people get infected every year, because they ignore the symptoms or because they do not present any.

Incubation period of the virus is between three to seven days after the exposure. Usually, the first infection is violent, severe and it has extended evolution, or it can present no symptoms at all, depending on the reactivity of the patient and the individual immune response.

Manifestations of genital herpes appear in the genital area, which start with small red bumps that progress into watery blisters, then develop further into open sores. When scratched, the sores could burst open and secrete blood and pus. Before all these, the person will first feel a burning and itching sensation.

Two to four days after, the watery blisters will burst and develop into open raw wounds, which can become bigger and the boil covered with crusts can take up large areas of the skin.

As we mentioned, this infection affects both women and men, no matter what type of sexual activity they develop. People who practice anal sex can get lesions at the anus level. Women however can experience a great amount of pain if the virus is located at the urethra level. Stinging and burning feelings will definitely bother the infected woman, and this condition shall need immediate treatment.

A few of the symptoms of the infection are colds, fever, and headache. The sores could sometimes also spread to the upper thigh, hip and buttocks. Antiviral medications could be taken to control the recurrence of the virus and to clear up the sores.

Unfortunately, until present days, the specialists could not develop a treatment to prevent the latency state of the virus. Also there is no such remedy for permanent removal of the virus from the human organism. The virus can only be controlled.

Continuous treatments have rendered successful results in preventing the frequency of outbreaks of the genital herpes, as well as in reducing the severity of the infection. The anti-viral treatment must be continued up to fourteen days, and if the wounds are still not healed, the medication can be extended for seven more days.

The most important step for an infected person to take is to pay attention to the symptoms, promptly consult a doctor, and most importantly do everything that is necessary to prevent transmission of the disease to others.

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You Have Got The Mites Under Your Skin!

April 6, 2008

Scabies are generally transmitted through intimate skin to skin contact, such as sleeping together with an infected individual. The disease is a type of skin disease which is highly infectious. It is caused by a microscopic mite scientifically known as sarcoptes scabei and characterized by an inflammation.

The mites do not fly or jump and just move very slowly. They can exist outside a human host up to four days. At this time, they can be transferred to humans through infested household items, clothes, sheets and other personal items.

The itch mite that causes the scabies is called Sarcoptes scabiei. This type of mites is attracted by the heat and the smell of the human body. Female mites go into the skin, literally digging small tunnels, the size of very small threads, which sometimes are visible. That is the place where the parasites lay their eggs.

A healthy person can be contaminated by prolonged, intimate contact with a person that is infested. One can also have the mites by handling items that have been used or clothing materials that have been worn by the infested person.

The parasite can enter the skin very quickly especially in rough areas of the skin, such as the elbows, the fingers and the knees.

After laying up to twenty eggs inside the burrowed skin, the female mite will die. The eggs she left under the skin will transform into larva after three days. The larva then crawls out of the tunnel and stays on the surface of the skin until they become adults fourteen to seventeen days after. This is the complete life cycle of the itchy mite and it will continue until they are finally treated and exterminated.

Sarcoptes scabiei contaminate humans and they do not contaminate dogs or other animals. The same way, the mites from the animals do not have any effect on the humans, because they cannot survive or reproduce on human body.

Nevertheless, the animal mites can stay under the skin for a time long enough to cause itch and allergies but the mite will eventually expire without laying eggs. Since scabies are highly contagious, a healthy person can still be infected by a person who appears to have been healed of his/her infestation. However, if treatment was not properly administered, then the mites will not be fully exterminated. It might take several weeks before the symptoms resurface.

During this time, the patient is highly contagious because of the incubation period. Symptoms of the infectation become more prominent after taking a bath at night. At times, they can be mistaken for dry skin as it looks like dry skin.

The itching sensation is caused by the allergic reaction to the mite. For children and for older people who are infected, the itchy might become severe.

The skin has the aspect of a rash and small curves can be noticed at the sensitive skin level. These are the results of the tunnels dug by the mites. Sometimes, a small black dot can be seen. It is the parasite itself, at the end of the lesion.

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Genital Herpes - Much More Prevalent Than You Think!

April 6, 2008

As it is commonly known, genital herpes is a widespread disease infecting the genital area. Infection causes open sores that are highly contagious, infecting men as well as women. It is generally transmitted through sexual contact but could be contracted through other ways as well.

It can be contracted from touching contaminated items like towels, underwear and toilet seats. One can also get it through kissing and in rare cases through oral sex.

The infection can be transmitted in this manner because this particular virus is capable of staying alive outside its human host for whole minutes, thus we should not be so trusting when it comes to hygiene, specifically in the use of public facilities like restrooms.

Many of the individuals who carry the disease present no symptoms at all. That is highly dangerous because it cannot warn the healthy individuals about its existence. A large number of people get infected every year, because they ignore the symptoms or because they do not present any.

Development period of the virus is from three to seven days from time of exposure. Generally, the first outbreak would be severe and would have extended development period; on the other hand, there could be no obvious indications of the infection, depending on the level response of the person’s immune system.

Manifestations of genital herpes appear in the genital area, which start with small red bumps that progress into watery blisters, then develop further into open sores. When scratched, the sores could burst open and secrete blood and pus. Before all these, the person will first feel a burning and itching sensation.

After two to four days, the grouped blisters break and they transform into painful ulcerations. These ulcerations ca extend and the pustules covered with crusts can cover big surfaces of the skin.

As we mentioned, this infection affects both women and men, no matter what type of sexual activity they develop. People who practice anal sex can get lesions at the anus level. Women however can experience a great amount of pain if the virus is located at the urethra level. Stinging and burning feelings will definitely bother the infected woman, and this condition shall need immediate treatment.

Some of the symptoms of the infection are headache, colds and fever. The lesions can develop up to the hip, buttocks and upper thigh. The infection can be treated with anti-viral medicines which will arrest the development of the virus and the severity of the infection.

Unfortunately, until present days, the specialists could not develop a treatment to prevent the latency state of the virus. Also there is no such remedy for permanent removal of the virus from the human organism. The virus can only be controlled.

Extended treatment in time has proven to be effective for preventing the frequency of the recurrence of the genital herpes, as well as for reducing the infection level. The anti-viral treatment must be proceeded for up to fourteen days, and if the lesions of the skin do not heal after this period of time, the treatment can be extended for seven more days.

The most important step for an infected person to take is to pay attention to the symptoms, promptly consult a doctor, and most importantly do everything that is necessary to prevent transmission of the disease to others.

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