Sexually Transmitted Diseases (III)

My previous article focused on the most common viral and parasitic STDs. In this article I am going to focus on the most common fungal STD and on two other parasitic STDs.

Fungal Candida albicans: What’s important to know?

Candida albicans is a yeast fungus that naturally lives in the intestinal of about 75% of all people. Indeed, in healthy people the fungus neither causes harm nor has any known advantage to its human hosts. A weak immune system or an impaired intestinal function can lead to excessive reproduction and to infestation of other body regions (such as the mouth, genitals, eyes or the skin under the nails). This causes a disease called thrush or candidiasis. A light, white-yellowish discharge that is easily removable, hints to candida albicans. If the immune system is highly impaired , infestations of inner organs are also possible, which can be fatal. Candida albicans infestation of the blood can lead to sepsis.

Symptoms: When occuring vaginally, the white-yellowish discharge is accompanied by itching , der Juckreiz and burning : in the case of sepsis, the patient has high fever;

Specimen: Serum, vaginal fluid, sputum;

Diagnostic tests: Microbiology (culture);

Therapy: The doctor prescribes antimycotic agents such as nystatin

and fluconazole taken as pills, creams or infused depending on whether the fungi has infested outer or inner parts of the body.

It is recommended that patients discard items which have been in contact with infected body parts such as toothbrushes or dental braces.

A disputed treatment is a special diet restricting carbohydrates and sugar, since these form the primary nutrition of Candida albicans. Successful treatment of the fungus infestation, however, is yet to be proved. It is recommended to limit the diet to four weeks.

Parasitic Pubic lice (crabs): What do we know about this STD?

Pubic lice are tiny insects measuring up to 1.6 millimetres, and can be found in the genital area. They resemble crabs, which explains their nickname. They are mostly transmitted via sexual intercourse. Nonetheless, sharing bed sheets or towels are other routes of infection.

The lice feed on blood, causing severe itching with their bites. They can spread to other areas with coarse body hair such as legs, chest, armpits, beard/mustache, eyelashes and eyebrows.

Symptoms: Severe itching. Possible complications are pale blue spots where you are bitten, secondary infections and eye irritations (especially for children) such as conjunctivitis.

Diagnostic tests: Microscopic

Therapy: Pubic lice can be eliminated with creams or lotions applied to the infected areas. If over-the-counter treatments do not work, if you are pregnant or your skin has rubbed away from scratching – seek a doctor.

Scabies: What’s known about this STD?

Scabies are itch mites that infest 300 million people worldwide. They are transmitted via close body contact. However, they can survive up to two weeks on clothes, bed sheets, upholstered furniture and carpets without a human host. Lack of hygiene, shared sleeping places and novel sexual contacts favour infection.

The mites are about 0.2 to 0.5 millimetres. The female mites dig a tunnel under the skin where they stay for about a month and lay one to two eggs a day until a new cycle begins. They are most often found between fingers, under the armpits, around the elbow, around the nipples, at the belly button, the penis and the foot.

Symptoms: Symptoms occur after three to six weeks and include blisters , red palms and strong itching.

Therapy: Without treatment the infestation passes after about three months, the scratching may lead to a bacterial infection and scabies is highly contagious . It is treated with ointment. This treatment is repeated after one week. Additionally, increased hygiene is crucial.

EXERCISE: 1. Symptoms for Scabies are:

A. Strong itching B. Vaginal discharge C. Blisters D. Red palms E. Conjunctivitis

2. An infection with Candida albicans can lead to sepsis.

A. True B. False

3. Pubic lice are also called itch mites.

A. True B. False

You’ll find the answer on: http://tinyurl.com/weiterbildung-englisch

BIBLIOGRAPHY http://dict.leo.org www.dict.cc www.webster-dictionary.org www.rki.de; www.cdc.gov Kayser FH, Bienz KA, Eckert J, Zinkernagel RM: Medical Microbiology, Thieme Verlag, 2004. CARMEN LOBITZ Carmen Lobitz ist freie Trainerin, Lehrerin und MTA. Sie gründete 1998 in Berlin lobitz seminare, die unter anderem Englischseminare für Health Professionals anbieten. Kontakt: mail@lobitz-seminare.de www.lobitz-seminare.de

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Lösung für Exercise: 1. A + C + D 2. A 3. B

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (III)

Fungal

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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (III)

Fungal

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