Sexually transmitted diseases
"Today, HIV transmission has been greatly reduced in certain ways".
DR. JOSÉ LUIS DEL POZO LEÓN
DIRECTOR. INFECTIOUS DISEASES SERVICE
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as the name implies are a group of diseases and infections that are transmitted after sexual contact with an affected person.
Among the STDs are mainly the so-called "venereal" diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum and granuloma inguinale, as well as urethritis and cervicitis due to Chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, infections of human papilloma virus and hepatitis B virus and also infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the etiological agent of AIDS.
What are the symptoms of STDs?
The most common symptoms are:
- Skin lesions such as ulcers, sores, pimples or warts, especially around or on the genitals, mouth and anus.
- Abdominal pain in women.
- Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
- Vaginal or penile discharge.
- Pain and burning when urinating.
- Fever and general discomfort.
The diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases is made by the doctor on the basis of the anamnesis and the physical examination.
Usually, the suspicion is confirmed with specific cultures for the possible infectious agent (bacteria, virus...) or a study in blood of some marker of the disease (for example, VDRL and FTA-ABS in syphilis).
Early microbiological diagnosis using sensitive and specific techniques is crucial for successful reduction of transmission and sequelae.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
You may have a sexually transmitted disease
How are STDs treated?
The treatment for STDs of bacterial origin is the use of specific antibiotics, for example penicillin derivatives for gonorrhoea and syphilis.
In case of viral infections such as genital herpes, antiviral drugs (acyclovir and its derivatives) are used both in acute treatment and in prophylaxis of new outbreaks.
In other viral infections such as condylomas, treatment is local destruction by caustic products, immunomodulators (imiquimod), cryotherapy, electrocoagulation and surgical procedures.
Where do we treat them?
IN NAVARRE AND MADRID
The Infectious Diseases Service
of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
This area works on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases produced by an infectious agent, which can be bacteria, virus, fungus and protozoa. Infections affect people by causing very different processes that can be located in any tissue of the human body, so it requires a specific approach.
This area carries out its activity on three fronts: care work, focused on the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases; teaching, with training of medical students, resident doctors and nurses; and research vocation, through the development of clinical and laboratory studies.
Organized in care units
- Infections associated with biomaterials.
- Nosocomial infections (multi-resistance).
- Infections in immunosuppressed patients.
- Community infection.
- Traveler's medicine.
- Prudent use and optimization program of anti-infective therapy.
- Control of infection by multi-resistant microorganisms.
Why at the Clinica?
- We perform the traveler's assessment and analytical tests in less than 24 hours.
- Second opinion consultation when the infection has not yet been resolved.
- We ensure the prudent use of antibiotics.
Our team of professionals
