SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Umm Iman : I would like you to explain to me what is meant by sexually transmitted diseases.

Dr Ahmad :

They are the diseases that are transmitted through intercourse. Amongst  them, we have:

1. Chlamydia : It is the first sexual disease in the world. The microbe which causes it is the one that causes trachoma in the eyes.

Symptoms :

a) Burning during urination and excess urination.

b) Possibility that the vulva will be red, plus burning

c) Inflammation of the cervix.

d) Early [natural] abortion.

e) Sterilisation.

Diagnosis :

Difficulty to diagnose the disease. Its diagnosis requires a special examination.

2. Gonorrhea : The causing microbe for this disease is called "Gonococcus" (small coffee-brown balls). Its incubation period ranges from two days to two weeks(9).

Symptoms :

a) Burning during urination and excess urination.

b) Suppurative discharge from the urinary canal.

c) Burning in the vulva and its reddening.

d) Symptoms of uterine inflammation; acute inflammation of the Fallopian canal.

Complications :

The inflammation may spread and reach the uterus and the ovary. The  tubes may be filled with pus. The Fallopian ducts adhere to one another, which may cause sterility. These inflammation and adherence cause pain in the basin, during intercourse, perturbation in the monthly period and chronic constipation.

Diagnosis :

Through (a) the symptoms, (b) the extraction of samples from the cervix, the urinary canal, the Bartholin gland duct, and (c) some skin tests.

3. Syphilis :

The microbe which is responsible for this disease has a spiral form and  resembles a corkscrew. The places of entry, in women, that are the most frequently used by this microbe are the vulva and the cervix.

The Symptoms of the disease :

The disease appears over three phases :

a) The first phase : After entry into the woman's body, the microbe remains in incubation for a period ranging from ten days to three months.  After this period, a hard chancre appears on the mucusal membranes. It is usually not painful. The lymph glands in the [affected] area swell along with the chancre abscess. A light infectious liquid comes out of the abscess; it is very infectious.

Diagnosis :

It can be inferred from (a) the clinical symptoms, (b) the examination of the leaked out liquid (via a microscope), through the use of a special  illumination procedure, as it is possible to see the microbe.

b) The second phase : The first phase dissipates after it lasts several weeks. After approximately two months, the microbes attack the blood. A general copper-coloured skin rush (Exanthema) appears. This rush does not cause any itching. Inflammations and white sores appear in the mouth and on the mucusal membranes. Temperature rises slightly. Syphilitic reproductive warts may appear on the vulva and around the anus. This stage can go on for two years. If the woman gets pregnant, she delivers a disfigured baby or a stillborn one, or a natural abortion takes place.

Diagnosis :

It can be inferred from (a) the clinical symptoms, (b) the age of the disease, (c) the examination, via a microscope, of the liquid leaked out by the sores on the mucusic membranes, using a special illumination procedure, (d) a serological examination like the Ozermann /Wassermann's test or V.D.R.L.(10)

c) The third phase : If the disease is not treated during its two first phases (phase one and phase two), it inhabits the infected person's body and becomes latent for many years (up to thirty years). During this long period, the microbes attack different systems of the body, especially the heart, the blood vessels, the brain, the ear, the eye, the joints and the bones. This causes many different dangerous diseases like aortis, a drop heart (corpendelum), paralysis, madness (dementia).

Diagnosis :

It can be achieved through (a) a serological analysis, (b) a pathological analysis of the affected tissues.

4. Herpes genitalis : (Simple labia sores).

There are two types of the simple Herpes (simple labia sores):

Type One : It affects the labia and the mouth. We observe (similar sores) during fever attacks.

Type Two : It affects the reproductive apparatus.

Its Symptoms :

After a period ranging from two to seven days, the symptoms appear for  the first time. Afterward, they appear periodically, as a result of the action of the latent virus. The symptoms are:

a) Itching and burning on the part of the skin in which the disease  will appear.

b) Appearance of small pustules, or water-filled blisters on a red surface. The pustules appear on the vulva, the vagina and the cervix.

c) The pustules recede leaving a very painful wound on the skin surface.

d) Burning and strong pain during urination.

e) Influenza-like symptoms, e.g.: tiredness, exhaustion, a slight  increase in temperature.

f) Yellow and green secretions or transparent ones.

g) Urinary incontinence stemming from strong inflammation.

Genital Herpes and Pregnancy :

The symptoms of this disease are more acute during pregnancy. The disease may be transmitted to the baby during childbirth, which leads to its death.

Herpes and the cancer of the cervix :

An increase in the rate of cervical cancer has been observed for Herpes infected women.

Umm Iman : Are there any other sexually transmitted diseases ?

Dr Ahmad :

There are other diseases like the following:

1. Soft Chancre : It appears on the reproductive organs in the form of a fresh abscess that is very painful. It is accompanied by a swelling of the  lymph glands located in the area, in which pus may form.

2. Hepatitis Type B : This disease is transmitted via the blood or injections and also via normal or abnormal sexual intercourse. It causes jaundice, then cirrhosis, then liver failure, then death.3. Lymphogranuloma venerium : The disease starts with a small abscess on the genital organs. Then the herpes lumph glands swell and abscesses form on them. After that, fustulae occur between them and the skin surface.

4. Lymphogranuloma Anguinal :  It is a sort of abscess on the reproductive apparatus, accompanied by a swelling of the herpes lymph glands and that of glands around the anus. This causes the closure of the vagina and the anus. It may evolve into cancer, if treatment is neglected.