Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Sexually transmitted diseases are most commonly transmitted by sexual intercourse. HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, and some types of hepatitis are major STDs.

• STDs like gonorrhoea and syphilis were caused by bacteria.
• STDs like HIV, hepatitis B were caused by viruses, trichomoniasisis caused by parasites.

  Causes:

               Causative organisms of STDs lie in semen, blood, vaginal secretions and sometimes in saliva. These are transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex. In some cases these may spread through skin contact or sharing of toothbrushes and needles.

Prevention:

                STDs are chronic diseases proper treatment for these diseases is not available. Prevention is better than treatment for this STDs.