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STD Information that you need to know! This information is directly from the Mason County Health Department Website. Chlamydia Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease in Washington. In early stages, 7 - 21 days after exposure there may be abnormal genital discharge or pain during urination. Women may also experience abdominal pain. However, Chlamydia is sometimes called "the silent STD" because symptoms are often mild or absent. Chlamydia is especially a problem among sexually active adolescents, who accounted for 40% of the reported cases in 1999. Because adolescents are at high risk of re-infection, screening more often than once per year should be considered. Pregnant women can transmit Chlamydia to their infants at birth, resulting in neonatal conjunctivitis and chlamydial pneumonia. Genital Herpes Genital Herpes is one of two serotypes of the herpes simplex virus. Herpesvirus type 1 (HSV-1) is usually associated with oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters) and herpesvirus type 2 (HSV-2) with genital herpes. However, HSV-1 or HSV-2 can infect either site. The virus remains in the body for life causing periodic symptoms in some people. An infected person with no noticeable symptoms can transmit herpes. Symptoms vary wisely. Symptoms usually appear 2 - 21 days after the initial exposure. Small fluid-filled sores appear where the virus entered the body and may itch, burn, or be painful. These initial sores heal in 1 to 2 weeks. Symptoms can recur at the initial infection site. The cause of reactivation is not known. Antiviral drugs partially control the frequency and severity of outbreaks, however, they are not a cure and do not rid the body of the virus. Genital herpes increases the risk of acquiring HIV and facilitates its transmission. A pregnant woman can transmit herpes to her infant through the birth canal, causing serious infection or death to the newborn. Risk is highest if the initial infection is during pregnancy. Gonorrhea Gonorrhea symptoms consist of discharge and painful urination in both men and women, however, half of all women have no symptoms. The most common consequence of gonorrhea among women is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. Untreated gonorrhea can spread to the bloodstream and infect the heart valves, joints, or the brain. Gonorrhea is highest among sexually active adolescents and young adults. Syphilis Syphilis is acquired by direct contact with the sores of active syphilis. The course of the disease is divided into four stages - primary, secondary, early latent, and late/late latent. Without treatment syphilis is infectious during the first three stages. In its noncontagious late stages, untreated syphilis may progress to complications such as central nervous system impairment and damage to the heart or other organs. Syphilis increases the risk of acquiring HIV and facilitates its transmission. Different signs and symptoms characterize each stage. The most common sign during the primary stage is a painless ulcer, appearing at the site of infection approximately 3 weeks after infection. The ulcer goes away within a few weeks even if untreated. Secondary syphilis occurs about 3 to 6 weeks after the first appearance of the ulcer, may involve a fever, rash on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, aching muscles, headache, hair loss, and fatigue. Both stages resolve on their own and each stage is followed by a period during which there are no signs or symptoms. Fetal death occurs in approximately 40% of cases of pregnant women who have untreated syphilis during pregnancy. Surviving infants may be born with congenital syphilis and suffer blindness, brain damage, and serious bone deformities. Syphilis is usually treated with injectable penicillin. In all stages, proper treatment will cure the disease, but damage done to body organs in late syphilis cannot be reversed. Mason County Health Department offers the following services for STD's: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Examinations
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Last revised: May 27, 2008 | |||
