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STD Diagnosis
Diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is of vital importance, not only so that treatment can be started early in order to prevent long-term complications but also to prevent transmission and protect communities. There is a wide array of tests available to check for the various organisms that cause STDs including trichomonas, Chlamydia, hepatitis, herpes, HIV and gonorrhoea, amongst others.
Diagnosis and routine screening to rule out STDs should be carried out under the following circumstances:
Presence of STD symptoms. These include:
When a couple want to receive a clean bill of sexual health before engaging in sexual intercourse
When a woman is pregnant and needs screening to ensure no infection is passed onto the baby and to check the baby for infection if the mother is found to be infected.
When blood, blood products, organs and tissues are being used for donation
High risk groups such as drug abusers or commercial sex workers need monitoring for infection.
Diagnostic tests for STDsDetailed history of sexual intercourse with individuals in the recent past, along with history of symptoms.
The Pap test is performed to screen all women for the abnormal structure of cervical cells. These can arise as a result of infection with certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Starting from the age of 21, all women should receive a Pap smear every three years.
SourcesFAST FACTS ABOUT STD'S
FAST FACTS ABOUT STD'SFAST FACTS ABOUT STD'S
(You may also want to check out Unspeakable.Com's STD Clinic Locator)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)What It Is: The virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV works by attacking the body's immune system, leaving it susceptible to fatal infections and cancers.How You Can Get It: Through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. You can't get contract HIV from kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or even donating blood. You can, however, get it through using infected needles.Symptoms: You can be infected with HIV and have no symptoms; AIDS takes an average of 7-9 years to develop once HIV enters the body. Symptoms of AIDS, which are caused not by HIV but by the infections that take advantage of the body's weakened immune system, include rapid weight loss, chronic fever, diarrhea, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and nightsweats. These symptoms can last for weeks or months at a time, and will not go away without treatment. With that said, these are symptoms that are seen in many other diseases that are not AIDS-related, so don't panic and assume that one or more of these mean you have HIV or AIDS.Detect It: A blood test will determine whether or not you have HIV. The test can be done at an AIDS testing center, clinic, doctor's office, or even with a home test kit. You can request that testing be confidential.Is It Curable?: No. Contrary to popular belief, there is no cure yet for HIV/AIDS.Is It Treatable?: Yes, but not universally. Although there have been new developments in treatment over the last few years, and many patients' lives have been prolonged, different people respond to these medications in different ways. Treatment to slow HIV's attack on the immune system, which involves combining two classes of drugs, is complicated. The other major focus of HIV treatment is preventing and alleviating AIDS-related infections.Prevent It: Practicing safe sex. Until you trust your partner and know that she or he has been tested for HIV, use a latex condom.Where To Get Help: The CDC National AIDS Hotline, 1-800-342-AIDS; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
"HIV - Get Tested!" Week will take place from December 1-9, 2000 in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C. Visit www.HIVGetTested.Com for details on where to go for free, confidential testing and counseling.
HEPATITIS BWhat It Is: An infection of the liver causes by a virus which is 100 times more infectious than HIV. About 300,000 American contract hepatitis B every year. Although most people recover, some become chronic carriers of the disease. This means more problems down the road, such as liver cancer.How You Can Get It: Hepatitis B is spread like HIV: through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. You can contract the virus through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.Symptoms: Poor appetite, vomiting, nausea, headaches, yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark urine, general fatigue. These usually show up within 2 to 6 weeks after infection. If you're a chronic carrier who has no symptoms, you can still pass it (unknowingly) to others.Detect It: If you are experiencing symptoms, or have had sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis B, you can get diagnosed through a blood test.Is It Curable?: Yes.Is It Treatable?: Treatment includes rest, diet, and medication. If your partner or anyone else you come in close contact with is diagnosed with the disease, you can get immunized.Prevent It: Practice safe sex by using a latex condom. To minimize your risk of getting hepatitis B, never share needles, syringes, or any instruments used for ear-piercing, tattooing, and hair removal. Don't share toothbrushes or razors either. If you find that you've contracted hepatitis B, avoid sex and other close contact (even kissing), until cleared by a doctor.Where To Get Help: The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
GENITAL HERPESWhat It Is: A viral infection that often causes sores in the genital area. If these sores are open and exposed to body fluids that carry HIV (through sex with someone who has HIV), genital herpes increases the risk of contracting HIV. Once you contract herpes, you have it for life, along with the estimated 40 million people who also have it. Each year, about 500,000 new people get herpes, and even more who have it but experience no symptoms.How You Can Get It: By touching sores and blisters through vaginal, oral, or anal sex; you can also be exposed to the virus by kissing or caressing the infected areas. Areas where sores form are contagious for days before any visible symptoms break out.Symptoms: Small red bumps that turn into blisterlike sores on the genitals, rear end, thighs, fingers, mouths, etc. Women often experience vaginal discharge and/or burning. Other symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and headaches. All these pop up from between 2 to 20 days after sex with an infected partner. But here's the kicker: some people experience no symptoms.Detect It: A physical examination and/or a clinical test will determine whether you have herpes. The test involves collecting a small amount of fluid from a sore and sending it to a lab to see if the herpes virus is present.Is It Curable?: No.Is It Treatable?: Yes. Prescription antiviral drugs can reduce pain, length, and frequency of herpes outbreaks. The earlier you get treatment, the more effective it will be.Prevent It: Practicing safe sex. Limit the number of sex partners, use a condom all the time, and if you think you might be infected, don't hesitate to get tested.Where To Get Help: The National Herpes Hotline, 1-919-361-8486; The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
CHLAMYDIAWhat It Is: A bacterial infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and/or sterility if not treated in time. Chlamydia has the dubious honor of being the number one bacterial STD in the U.S. Today, with 4 million new cases every year. It's also known as a "silent epidemic" because 75% of the women and 50% of the men with the disease have no symptoms.How You Can Get It: Vaginal or anal sex.Symptoms: Others experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, whitish vaginal or penile discharge, painful or burning urination. Women may also experience lower abdominal pain, painful intercourse, and bleeding between periods. Men may have burning and itching around the opening of the penis and/or pain and swelling in the testicles.Detect It: With a test from a urine sample or a sample of fluid taken from the infected area.Is It Curable?: Yes.Is It Treatable?: Yes. Prescription antibiotics will do the trick. Douches, however, will not—and may cause someone to get treatment too late to keep the disease from spreading.Prevent It: Once again, safe sex is the solution. Approach sexual relationships responsibly, always use a condom, and avoid sexual contact until you can be tested and treated for chlamydia. If you find that you are infected, make sure your partner gets treated so that you won't get re-infected yourself.Where To Get Help: The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
GONORRHEAWhat It Is: A bacterial infection in the vagina or cervix. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the rectum, urethra, and uterus, potentially causing sterility. Occasionally, gonorrhea that goes without treatment can be fatal. About 1 million people in the U.S. Contract gonorrhea every year.How You Can Get It: Vaginal, oral, or anal sex.Symptoms: Some people have no symptoms; others experience a burning feeling during urination, frequent urination, vaginal or penile discharge, fever, stomach pain, nausea, backache, and painful intercourse. Women can also have bleeding in between periods; about half of the women with gonorrhea have no symptoms.Detect It: Gonorrhea is determined with a medical test in which a sample of fluid is taken from the penis or vagina, then sent to a lab for results.Is It Curable?: Yes.Is It Treatable?: Yes. Prescription antibiotics will kill the infecting bacteria. Treatment that's not completed can spell serious problems down the road, such as abdominal pain, sterility, tubal pregnancy, and painful joints. If you are being treated for gonorrhea, you must stop having sex until you're cured; the same goes for your partner. This will help you avoid getting reinfected or transmitting the disease to someone else.Prevent It: Approach your sexual relationships safely and responsibly: limit the number, always use a condom, and, if you think you may be infected, avoid sexual contact until you can get tested.Where To Get Help: The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
SYPHILISWhat It Is: Syphilis can be very serious and actually result in death if left untreated. Like many other STD's, you can have syphilis without knowing it. About 120,000 new cases of syphilis get diagnosed in the U.S. Every year.How You Can Get It: Through oral, anal, or vaginal sex.Symptoms: The preliminary symptoms are often a painless sore around the vagina or penis, or inside the mouth or anus. Even if this sore disappeared on its own, the bacterial infection is still in the body. Later, you might develop flu-like symptoms, as well as potential hair loss and skin rashes. It's rare, but a third stage might develop years later as skin lesions, mental deterioration, loss of balance and vision, numbness, leg pain, and heart disease.Detect It: By getting a blood test; however, it takes 2 to 3 weeks after infection for the blood test to be accurate.Is It Curable?: Yes.Is It Treatable?: Yes, with antibiotic medication.Prevent It: Approach your sexual relationships safely and responsibly: limit the number, always use a condom, and, if you think you may be infected, avoid sexual contact until you can get tested.Where To Get Help: The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
TRICHOMONIASISWhat It Is: "Trich" is an infection causes by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. It hits about 2 to 3 million Americans every year, and weakens the immune system, making an infected person more susceptible to HIV.How You Can Get It: Vaginal sex.Symptoms: Heavy greenish discharge with a foul odor, vaginal itching and/or burning, abdominal pain, frequent urination, painful intercourse. A woman's symptoms can get worse after her period. Most men with trich have no symptoms, but might have symptoms like unusual penile discharge, painful urination, and tingling inside the penis.Detect It: By getting a medical test in which a sample of fluid is taken from the penis or vagina, then sent to a lab for results.Is It Curable?: Yes.Is It Treatable?: Prescription antibiotics.Prevent It By: Practicing safe sex and knowing your partner's sexual history. Because Trichomonia can survive on objects such as sheets, towels, and clothing, it can potentially be transmitted by sharing these. Even though men with the disease are almost always without symptoms, it's extra-important that they be treated so they don't infect others.Where To Get Help: The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
GENITAL HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV)What It Is: A viral infection that causes genital warts; there are actually over 60 different types of this virus. About 40 million Americans are diagnosed with HPV, with 1 million new cases every year. If HPV goes too long without treatment, the risk of cervical cancer increases.How You Can Get It: Vaginal or anal intercourse; however, you can also contract HPV simply by touching the infected area.Symptoms: Warts on the genitals and anal area. A person may be infected and contagious with no visible warts. Either way, HPV can cause abnormal cell growth on the female cervix. Visible signs of HPV show up within 3 weeks to 6 months after having sex with someone who's infected.Detect It: A doctor can examine the potentially infected area for warts and other unusual tissue. Women can also have a Pap smear, which will detect changes to the cervix that may be caused by HPV.Is It Curable?: No.Is It Treatable?: The warts can be removed, but often return because the virus stays in the body. Your doctor can remove smaller warts, and severe cases can be treated with laser surgery.Prevent It: Condoms provide limited protection. The best way to reduce your risk of getting HPV is to limit your sexual partners. Women should have Pap smears every 6 months to screen for HPV.Where To Get Help: HPV Hotline at 1-877-HPV-5868; the National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
PUBIC LICE and SCABIES
What It Is: Pubic lice, also known as Crabs, are tiny insects that live on the skin. They infect the hairy parts of the body, and lay eggs on body hair. Scabies is the result of a tiny female insect, a mite, burrowing into a person's skin to lay eggs.How You Can Get It: Although these are often spread through sexual contact, you can also get them by using the same sheets, clothes, or towels as an infected person.Symptoms: Extreme itching in the genital areas. With pubic lice, you might see pinhead-sized insects or eggs on the skin or body hair. With scabies, a skin rash may develop.Detect It: A doctor's examination will determine whether you have pubic lice or scabies.Is It Curable?: Yes.Is It Treatable?: Yes, with shampoos, creams, and lotions that are often available without a prescription. Wash all infected clothing, sheets, etc. With very hot water.Prevent It: Know your partner's sexual history.Where To Get Help: The National STD hotline at 1-800-227-8922; Planned Parenthood's clinic locator, 1-800-230-PLAN.
Understanding Protein In Urine (Proteinuria)
If your kidneys aren't functioning correctly, the protein can leak into your urine. The result is high protein levels in urine, known as proteinuria.
Your kidneys keep you healthy by filtering your blood.
The kidneys have tiny blood vessels called glomeruli. Glomeruli remove waste, which enters the urine, and reabsorb protein that stays in the blood. When doesn't work, you can get proteinuria.
The different types of proteinuria include:
Glomerular proteinuria is the most common type. Albuminuria, or excess amounts of the protein albumin, is a subtype of glomerular proteinuria.
Proteinuria may be related to temporary conditions, such as dehydration, or more serious kidney damage. Let's explore the possible causes of proteinuria, along with its symptoms and treatment.
If you have proteinuria, take note of your other symptoms. They may help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
DehydrationDehydration happens when your body loses too much fluid. It's a common, temporary cause of proteinuria.
Your body uses water to deliver nutrients, such as proteins, to the kidneys. Without enough fluid, it'll have difficulty delivering nutrients. In turn, the kidneys can't properly recapture proteins. The protein ends up in the urine instead.
Other symptoms of proteinuria depend on the severity of dehydration. You may experience:
Dehydration can be caused by:
High blood pressureHigh blood pressure, or hypertension, can weaken the blood vessels in the kidneys. This decreases their ability to reabsorb protein, which then flows into the urine.
Since high blood pressure develops slowly, you may not have symptoms for years. If it becomes severe, it can cause headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds.
Most cases of high blood pressure don't have an underlying cause. In some people, high blood pressure is a result of:
Diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that causes high levels of blood sugar. There are multiple types of diabetes, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
With diabetes, high blood sugar forces the kidneys to filter the blood too much. This can cause kidney damage, allowing protein to leak into the urine.
Symptoms of diabetes depend on the severity and type. You may experience:
GlomerulonephritisProteinuria may indicate glomerulonephritis, or inflammation of the glomeruli.
Normally, when the glomeruli filter blood, they reabsorb protein. If the glomeruli are injured, protein can pass through and enter the urine.
Glomerulonephritis can cause a set of symptoms called nephrotic syndrome. In addition to proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome involves:
Glomerulonephritis may also cause hematuria, or red blood cells in the urine. Hematuria makes urine look pink or cola-colored.
Typically, glomerulonephritis happens when the immune system attacks the kidneys. It's been associated with:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the progressive loss of kidney function. It may cause proteinuria in the early stages, but it usually doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms.
As CKD progresses, you might experience:
The following conditions can damage the kidneys and lead to CKD:
If CKD progresses, it can result in kidney failure.
Autoimmune diseasesThe immune system usually produces antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, that fight foreign organisms. If you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system makes antibodies that attack the body's tissues. These substances are called autoantibodies.
If the autoantibodies injure the glomeruli, inflammation can occur. This leads to kidney damage, and eventually, proteinuria.
The following autoimmune diseases are associated with proteinuria:
In preeclampsia, a pregnant person develops high blood pressure at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This temporarily impairs the kidneys' ability to filter protein, which causes proteinuria.
Other preeclampsia symptoms include:
Though preeclampsia usually goes away after delivery, it's a serious condition that can lead to preterm birth. Individuals with preeclampsia should be carefully monitored.
CancerIn severe cases, proteinuria is caused by cancer. Several types of cancer are associated with high urine protein levels, including:
It's thought that the inflammatory effect of cancer alters kidney function.
In some conditions, such as multiple myeloma, kidney damage occurs when abnormal proteins in the blood bind with normal proteins in the urine. As kidney function declines, more protein ends up in the urine.
Though cancer symptoms vary greatly, general symptoms include:
Other causes of proteinuria include:
In the early stages of kidney damage, you won't have any symptoms. That's because there are only small amounts of protein in your urine.
As kidney damage progresses, more protein will pass into your urine. This may cause symptoms such as:
If you have temporary or mild proteinuria, you likely won't need treatment. If you have consistent proteinuria, you'll need to treat the underlying condition.
Treatment may include:
In general, people of African, Hispanic, Latin, Native American, and Asian descent experience kidney conditions more frequently.
Some people are more likely to develop proteinuria. Common risk factors include:
The only way to diagnose proteinuria is through a urine test, which measures the amount of protein in your urine.
The test takes place in a doctor's office. During the procedure, you urinate into a specimen cup. The doctor places a dipstick, or a small plastic stick coated with chemicals, into the urine sample. If it has too much protein, the stick will change color.
The rest of the urine will be sent to a lab, where it will be examined under a microscope.
If the doctor thinks you have kidney concerns, they'll repeat the urine test three times in 3 months. This helps them rule out temporary causes of proteinuria.
A doctor might also use the following tests to determine what's causing your proteinuria:
Proteinuria can be temporary, so some people with proteinuria won't require treatment.
However, proteinuria often means that your kidneys aren't properly filtering blood. Therefore, the goal of treatment is to manage any underlying conditions you may have.
If necessary, a doctor can create a treatment plan to help protect your kidneys and ease any related symptoms.
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