STDs Caused By Bacteria

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the ones that are mainly spread by sexual contact. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. They mostly affect the human reproductive system. STDs raise a major health concern because many people do not show any symptoms, but they can still infect others.

This Story also Contains

1. What are Bacterial STDs?
2. Common Bacterial STDs
3. How Bacterial STDs Affect The Human Body?
4. Diagnosis And Testing Diagnostic of Bacterial STDs
5. Bacterial STDs Treatment And Management
6. STDs Education and Awareness
7. MCQs on Bacterial STDs

Among the STDs, bacterial STDs are quite common. These infections can affect both men and women and present a significant threat to reproductive health. If they are left untreated, they can cause serious problems like infertility, skin problems, or infections in newborns.

What are Bacterial STDs?

Bacterial STDs are sexually transmitted diseases caused by bacteria. These diseases spread mainly through unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusions, sharing needles, and from an infected mother to her baby. They mostly affect the reproductive organs, but they can also affect other parts of the body. The examples of bacterial STDs include Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Chancroid, and Mycoplasma genitalium infection. Unlike STDs caused viruses, these diseases can be easily treated with antibiotic medicines.

Studying bacterial STDs is necessary for prevention, early identification, and giving the right treatment to avoid any serious health problems. It is important to spread awareness as it encourages testing and safe practices. This will help in decreasing these infections.

Common Bacterial STDs

There are several bacterial STDs. Some of the commonly seen bacterial STDs are listed below, along with their causative agents, symptoms, mode of transmission, and treatment:

Gonorrhea

It is a bacterial STD that mainly affects the reproductive tract. The infection can also be in the mouth and buccal cavity, rectum, and eyes.

• Causative agent: Neisseria gonorrhoea.

• Symptoms and signs: Males generally experience inflammation of the urethra with pus drainage and painful urination. In females, infection typically occurs in the vagina with a discharge of pus.

• Mode of Transmission: The pathogen can be transmitted by unprotected intercourse with an infected person or from mother to baby during birth.

• Diagnosis: It is diagnosed through urine tests or swabs of the urethra in men or the cervix in women.

• Treatment: It is treated with antibiotics such as ceftriaxone and azithromycin.

Chlamydia

It is common, especially among young people. It often shows no symptoms in the early stages. If left untreated, it leads to serious problems like infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

• Causative agent: Chlamydia trachomatis

• Symptoms and signs: Men experience pain while urinating and frequent urination. In most females, symptoms are absent. If present, cause vaginal discharge or lower abdominal pain. The uterine tubes may become inflamed.

• Mode of Transmission: It can spread through sexual contact or from an infected mother to the baby.

• Diagnosis: It is detected through urine tests or swabs.

• Treatment: It can be treated with antibiotics, such as azithromycin or doxycycline.

Syphilis

It is a bacterial STD that develops in stages, and it can cause serious health issues if left untreated. It starts with a painless sore and later affects vital organs like the heart, brain, and nerves.

• Causative agent: Treponema pallidum

• Symptoms and signs:

1. Primary stage: Painless sores at the infection site.
2. Secondary stage: Skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat.
3. Tertiary: Serious medical complications, such as damage to the human heart, brain, and other organs

• Modes of transmission: Transmitted through sexual contact, exchange of blood, or through the placenta to a fetus.

• Diagnosis: The diagnosis is made by blood tests and physical symptoms like rashes and sores.

• Treatment: It is treated with penicillin or other antibiotics.

Chancroid

It is a less commonly found STD. It can increase the risk of HIV infection. Appropriate treatment can help get rid of symptoms and stop the infection.

• Causal agent: Haemophilus ducreyi

• Symptoms and signs: Painful genital sores (ulcers), and swollen and tender groin due to inflamed lymph nodes, indicating infection of the human lymphatic system.

• Mode of Transmission: Through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity

• Diagnosis: Diagnosis is done based on physical exam and lab tests of the sores

• Treatment: Treated with antibiotics like azithromycin, ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin or erythromycin.

Mycoplasma Genitale

It is a lesser-known disease but can cause serious health issues if left untreated. Many people are asymptomatic at early stages, which makes diagnosis difficult.

• Causative agent: Mycoplasma genitalium

• Symptoms and signs: Men face burning during urination, discharge from the penis, or inflammation, which affects the anatomy of male urethra. Females experience lower abdominal pain, painful urination, or vaginal discharge.

• Mode of Transmission: It spreads mainly through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.

• Diagnosis: Detected through nucleic acid amplification tests, NAAT.

• Treatment: Treated with antibiotics like azithromycin or moxifloxacin. Although it may be resistant to some medications.

How Bacterial STDs Affect The Human Body?

Bacterial STDs can cause various health problems in the body especially if they are left untreated. They mainly affect the reproductive organs, which leads to pain, mucus, and inflammation. In women, most of the infections spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes and cause infertility or complications in pregnancy. In men, they lead to inflamed urethra and rarely infertility.

• Bacteria enter and attach to mucous membranes of the body.

• They cause local infection which leads to swelling, redness, or pain.

• If they are not treated on time, they can spread to other parts of the body like the uterus and fallopian tubes.

• The immunity and immune system of the body reacts and results in inflammation.

• The body produces antibodies, which fight the infection.

• It can lead to long-term problems like chronic pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus).

• It can make the body susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

• In serious cases, it can cause heart or nerve complications.

Diagnosis And Testing Diagnostic of Bacterial STDs

Accurate and timely testing is important to identify bacterial STDs. Samples of blood, urine or swabs from the genitals are collected and sent in the labs. The testing methods are listed below:

Methods Overview Physical examination

The first step is often a physical examination. It includes looking for sores, rashes and discharge. Laboratory tests involve blood tests, urine tests, and swabs from the site of infection.

Importance of Early Detection

Early detection of bacterial STDs is important, as it helps prevent serious complications and long-term health issues. It also reduces the transmission of infection to others.

Bacterial STDs Treatment And Management

Bacterial STDs are mostly treated using antibiotics. It is advised to complete the full course of the medicines. Some treatments are listed below:

Antibiotic Treatments

• Appropriated antibiotics, depending on the bacteria present

• Adjustment for antibiotic resistance patterns

Symptom Management

• Monitor possible PID or systemic involvement

• Need for the full course of treatment

• Guarantees the removal of bacteria from the body.

• Decreases the possibility of contracting antibiotic-resistant bacterial resistance.

Prevention Methods

• Safe Sex

• Use of condoms to reduce the risk of passing on the infection.

• Get regularly tested to check early and treat if necessary.

STDs Education and Awareness

It is essential to create awareness about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to prevent their spread. It helps to reduce fear and clear misconceptions. When people are educated about STDs, they can take precautions and ask for medical help without shame. Educating both young people and adults is necessary.

• Public health campaigns help people to understand the risks, signs, and symptoms, as well as preventive measures.

• It is important to talk openly about sexual health.

MCQs on Bacterial STDs

Q1. Which one of the following common sexually transmitted diseases is completely curable when detected early and treated properly?

1. Genital Herpes

2. Gonorrhoea

3. Hepatitis-B

4. HIV Infection

Correct answer: 2) Gonorrhoea

Explanation:

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. When detected early and treated properly with appropriate antibiotics, gonorrhoea can be completely cured. It is important to seek medical attention and adhere to the prescribed treatment to ensure the effective eradication of the infection. However, it is worth noting that the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a growing concern, emphasizing the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 2) Gonorrhoea

Q2. Assertion: Bacterial STDs can be asymptomatic.

Reason: Bacterial STDs can be present in the body without causing any noticeable symptoms.

1. Assertion and reason are both true, and reason is an accurate account of assertion

2. Both assertion and reason are accurate, but the reason does not adequately explain the assertion.

3. The assertion is correct, but the reasoning is incorrect.

4. Both assertion and reason are incorrect

Correct answer: 1) Assertion and reason are both true, and reason is an accurate account of assertion.

Explanation:

Bacterial STDs can be asymptomatic, meaning they can be present in the body without causing any noticeable symptoms. This is particularly true for chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are often asymptomatic in women. This makes it important to get tested regularly for STDs, even if no symptoms are present, to prevent the spread of infection and the development of serious health complications.

Hence Option 1 is the correct answer. Assertion and reason are both true, and reason is an accurate account of assertion.

Q3. Which of the following groups includes STDs caused by bacteria??

1. Syphilis, Gonorrhoea

2. AIDS, Syphilis

3. Syphilis, Hepatitis B

4. Hepatitis B, AIDS

Correct answer: 1) Syphilis, Gonorrhoea

Explanation:

Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Gonorrhea, on the other hand, is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and primarily affects the genital tract, rectum, and throat. In contrast, AIDS, which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), weakens the immune system. Additionally, Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), primarily affects the liver.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) Syphilis, Gonorrhoea

Also Read:

• MCQs on STDs caused by Bacterial

• Reproductive Health

• Contraception