Sexually Transmitted Diseases Caused by VIRUSES

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Cause: Virus that infects and attacks your immune system, specifically the CD4+ cells Organism: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Location: Blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk of people who are infected

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? HIV Infection –The virus is in the body –May not know it because he/she feels fine –Can give it to other during sex or IV drug use AIDS –The virus has attacked the immune system and decreased the amount of CD4+ cells –Can become very sick with infections and/or cancers –Can die

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS? Average of about 10 years after becoming infected with HIV Timeline varies from person to person Intensive medication treatments may slow down the virus but not kill it

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS Many people do not have any symptoms for years, they do not know that they have it When people develop AIDS, they can become very sick with infections and cancers and even die

Kaposi's sarcoma A skin cancer commonly seen in AIDS patients

How is HIV Spread? Sexual contact with an infected person (Vaginal, oral, and anal sex) Sharing needles or syringes (IV drug use) Blood transfusions (Rare today) Mother to baby during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding

IS HIV/AIDS Serious? As of December 2001 in the U.S. –462,653 people have died of AIDS If you have a STD, you are at least 2-5 times more likely to acquire and transmit HIV. There is NO cure!

IS HIV/AIDS Common? 60 million have been infected with HIV worldwide 65,000 New cases in the U.S. per year 900,000 Total number of people infected in the U.S. 1 in 4 newly infected with HIV is under age 22

How is HIV Diagnosed? Blood test –Antibody screening test –DNA test –Viral titer

Where can I get tested for HIV? Local health departments, private doctors, or home tests. CDC National AIDS Hotline can answer questions, It is free. It is CONFIDENTIAL!

Treatment of HIV/AIDS Medications can slow down the virus, but cannot kill it There is no vaccine Patients must take many types of pills several times a day These medications are very expensive and have many side effects

Can HIV be Prevented? YES!! Do not use IV drugs Condoms have been shown to reduce your chance of getting HIV but not by 100% Abstinence is 100% effective

HIV: Summary Primarily spread through sexual activity and IV drug use HIV can cause serious infections, cancer, and death HIV infection is increasing among teens and young adults

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention. HIV/AIDS Highlights. Available at Accessed October 31, National Institute of Health. In Their Own Words: NIH Researchers Recall the Early Years of AIDS. Available at Accessed October 31,

Genital Herpes

STD caused by a virus Organism: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type I (HSV-1) –Usually mouth/lips Type 2 (HSV-2) –Usually genital Location: Genital area and mouth/lips (virus lives in the nerves in these areas)

Symptoms of Genital Herpes Most have no or only minimal signs or symptoms (i.e. Most have it and don’t know it!) Painful blisters on or around the genitals or rectum in some people Blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur

Recurrent Herpes Usually another outbreak of blisters/sores will appear weeks or months after the first outbreak Almost always less severe and shorter than the first episode The number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years The sores are often so mild, people don’t know they have it

How Is Genital Herpes Spread? Skin to skin, usually through sexual activity (oral, anal, and vaginal sex and outercourse) Herpes can be found and released on skin with or without sores/blisters Can get it from someone who does not have sores/blisters

Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) Most people who have herpes sores/blisters caused by HSV-2 will have them come back again and again HSV-2 is usually spread through genital sexual contact

Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) HSV-1 commonly causes infection of the mouth and lips (“cold sores” or “fever blisters”) Can get HSV-1 of the mouth by coming into contact with the saliva (spit) of an infected person (Such as sharing drinks, kissing, sneezing, ect.) HSV-1 in the mouth can be spread to the genitals by oral sex with someone who is infected

Is Genital Herpes Serious? Can cause recurrent painful genital sores Frequently causes psychological distress Can cause serious infections in infants at birth Makes it easier to get HIV if exposed to HIV

Is Genital Herpes Common? 1,000,000 NEW cases each year in U.S. 45,000,000 people in U.S. currently infected 1 out of 5 people over the age of 12 are infected with Genital Herpes

How is Genital Herpes Diagnosed? Physical exam of the genital area Culture of blisters/sores Blood tests (usually not done)

Treatment for Genital Herpes Medications can: –help healing –decrease outbreaks per year There is NO CURE!

Can Genital Herpes be Prevented? Condoms often fail in preventing the spread of herpes because they do not cover all the areas affected Abstinence is 100% effective

If you don’t have sex, you don’t have to worry about getting Genital Herpes!

Genital Herpes: Summary Spread through oral, anal, vaginal sex, and outercourse Most infected don’t know it and can spread it to others No cure Not prevented by condoms

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

STD caused by a virus Organism: Human Papillomavirus Location: Skin of genital area

Symptoms of Genital HPV Usually no symptoms – may have it and not know it Can cause: –genital warts –cancerous cells on the genital area

Types of HPV There are over 100 types of HPV Some types occur only on genital areas and are spread by sexual activity Some types are on other body parts (i.e. hands, feet) and are not sexually transmitted

How is Genital HPV spread? Skin to skin contact usually through sexual activity Can be spread without intercourse (outercourse) Can get it from someone who does not have warts

Is Genital HPV Serious? Most people infected do not know it Can lead to pre-cancerous cells (dysplasia) Can cause cancer of cervix, vagina, labia (vulva), penis, and anus

Is Genital HPV Common? 5,500,000 New cases per year 20,000,000 Total number infected now 50–75% of sexually active men and women will be infected (if you have more than one partner or your partner has had other partners)

How is Genital HPV Diagnosed? Physical exam to look for warts on the genital area Pap smear of cervix to look for pre- cancerous cells

Treatment of Genital HPV Warts and pre-cancerous cells are treated with chemicals, freezing, burning, laser, and surgical removal Cancer treated with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy Treatments get rid of warts and pre-cancerous cells but do not always get rid of the virus (i.e. the warts and precancerous cells can come back)

Is There a Cure for Genital HPV? NO!! But this is one of the few STDs caused by a virus in which the body’s immune system can sometimes eliminate it Most people will get rid of the virus on their own without treatment In people who’s immune system does not get rid of the virus, there is no cure

Can Genital HPV be Prevented? Condoms often fail in preventing the spread of HPV because they do not cover all the areas affected There is no scientific evidence that condoms reduce your chance of getting Genital HPV Abstinence is 100% effective in preventing Genital HPV

HPV Summary Can be spread through oral, anal, vaginal sex, and outercourse Most infected are not aware and can spread it to others Millions in the United States are infected Causes warts, pre-cancerous cells, and cancer

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Genital HPV Infection. Available at PV.htm Accessed October 31, PV.htm Health Awareness Connection. Young People's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS/HIV Disease. Available at Accessed October 31,

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

A viral infection located in the blood and other body fluids that can harm the liver and can cause cancer Organism: Hepatitis B virus Location: Blood and other body fluids

Symptoms of HBV 30% of carriers have no symptoms When you first get infected: –Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) –Fatigue –Abdominal pain –Nausea and vomiting –Loss of appetite Chronic infection: –Silent Carriers (no symptoms) –Progressive disease resulting in cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer

Normal Liver

Liver of a person with Hepatitis B: soft, flabby, yellowish-green, collapsed, and shrunken

How is HBV Spread? Sexual activity – most commonly –vaginal and anal Intravenous drug use –Sex with a IV drug user Blood transfusions (rare today) Mother to baby during birth

Is Hepatitis B Serious? Can cause cancer of the liver Causes liver disease resulting in death in 15-25% of chronically infected persons 5,000 deaths each year

Is Hepatitis B Common? 80,000 New cases per year 1,250,000 Infected and carrying the virus which can be spread through sexual activity

How is Hepatitis B Diagnosed? Blood test

Treatment of Hepatitis B Many people do not clear the virus and become “carriers” Medications help slow the virus and prevent liver damage

Can Hepatitis B be Prevented? Get Vaccinated! It is safe and effective. Never do IV drugs. Condoms may reduce the risk but do not eliminate it Abstinence is 100% effective!

Hepatitis B Summary A viral infection located in the blood and other body fluids that harms the liver and can cause cancer Spread most commonly through sexual activity Can be prevented with a vaccine and abstinence!

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis B. Available at Accessed October 31, Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Department of Pathology. Review of Pathology of the Liver.Available at Accessed November 6, US National Library of Medicine. Liver anatomy. Available at Accessed November 6,

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)? The most common chronic blood-borne viral infection in the U.S. Organism: Hepatitis C virus Location: Blood and other body fluids

How is HCV Spread? Intravenous Drug Use accounts for 60% of HCV in the U.S. Blood transfusions (rare today) Infected mother to infant during birth Sex with an infected partner

What are the symptoms of HCV? Most infected people (80%) have no symptoms The other 20% will have –Jaundice (yellow skin/eyes) –Fatigue –Dark Urine –Abdominal Pain –Nausea –Loss of Appetite

Is Hepatitis C Serious? 10,000 people die each year from HCV 70% of people with HCV are chronically infected which can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and DEATH. #1 Reason for liver transplant in the U.S.

Is Hepatitis C Common? 40,000 new cases per year 2,700,000 total number of infected people

How is Hepatitis C Diagnosed? Blood test Get tested if: –You have ever injected illegal drugs –You received blood products before 1992

Treatment of Hepatitis C Medications can eliminate the virus only 40% of the time. Many go on to have chronic HCV requiring a liver transplant No definitive cure!

Can Hepatitis C be Prevented? No vaccine available The efficacy of condoms to prevent Hepatitis C is unknown Do not do IV drugs Abstinence is 100% effective!

Hepatitis C Summary A viral infection located in the blood and other body fluids that harms the liver and can cause cancer and death Spread mainly by IV drug use and sex No Cure

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis C. Available at htm Accessed October 31, htm