STI is an infection that is transmitted
via body fluids through sexual contact.
They are caused by bacteria or viruses
that can be passed from one person to
another during sexual intercourse.
Methods of transmission
Direct contact
Through the blood
Sharing needles
Sexual
intercourse, across
the placenta
Through other bodily fluids
Sexual intercourse
Semen (male)
Vaginal discharge (female)
Breast feeding
Kissing
How the spread of STis can be controlled
Abstinence
The most reliable way to avoid infection
is to not have sex (i.e., anal, vaginal or
oral)
Vaccination
Vaccines are safe, effective, and
recommended ways to prevent
hepatitis B and HPV.
HPV vaccines are recommended for all
teen girls and women through age 26
and all teen boys and men through age
21. Hepatitis B vaccination should be
taken at a much younger age (child).
Mutual Monogomy
Being in a long-term mutually
monogamous relationship with an
uninfected partner.
Reduced number of sex partners
Reducing your number of sex
partners can decrease your risk for
STDs
Condoms
Go for an annual STD test
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Methods of transmission
Direct contact of bodily fluids
The virus that causes AID
cannot live outside the human
body as it is less tough than
the cold virus. Hence, you
could only become infected
with HIV through direct
contact of your bodily fluids
with those of someone with
the virus.
Sexual intercourse
HIV can live in the fluid inside
the vagina, rectum and urethra.
During sexual intercourse, fluids
from one partner come into
contact with fluids of the other.
The more sexual partners a
person has, the higher the chance
of them becoming infected with
HIV.
Blood contact
In the 1970s and 1980s
(before anyone knew
what caused AIDS), blood
containing HIV was used
in transfusions. Now all
blood used in transfusions
in most countries is
screened for HIV before it
is used.
By sharing hypodermic
needles
This most commonly happen in people
who inject drugs.
How it affects the immune system
HIV infects lymphocytes called T cells.
HIV slowly destroys T cells and after
several years after infection with the
virus, the numbers of certain kinds of
T cells are so low that they are unable
to fight against other pathogens
effectively. Because HIV attacks the
very cells which would normally kill
viruses (T cells), it is very difficult for
someone's immune system to protect
them against HIV.
How HIV may lead to AIDS
After several years (about 10) after
initial infection with HIV, a person is
likely to develop symptoms of AIDS
unless they are given effective
treatment. They become very
vulnerable to other infections such
as pneumonia, cancer (bearing in
mind that one of the main function
of the immune system is to destroy
body cells which may be beginning
to produce cancers).
What is AIDS?
The disease, Acquired
Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS) is caused
by HIV. A person with AIDS
usually dies from a
collection of several
illnesses as the person's
body can no longer fight
the other viruses due to
the destruction of
lymphocytes caused by HIV
virus.
Symptoms
Soaking night sweats. Shaking chills or fever
higher than 100 F (38 C) for several weeks.
Cough. Shortness of breath. Chronic diarrhea.
Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on
your tongue or in your mouth. Headaches.
Persistent, unexplained fatigue.
Symptoms
Rapid weight loss. Recurring fever
or profuse night sweats. Extreme
and unexplained tiredness.
Prolonged swelling of the lymph
glands in the armpits, groin, or
neck. Diarrhea that lasts for more
than a week
Treatment plan
There are currently five different
"classes" of HIV drugs. Each class
of drug attacks the virus at
different points in its life cycle