Chlamydia
is a bacterium. It can cause sterility in women and men. It infects the cervix and can spread to the urethra,fallopian tubes and ovaries. It can cause bladder infections and serious pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and sterility. In men, it
infects the urethra and may spread to the testicles. Chlamydia can also lead to arthritis. In infants, Chlamydia can cause
pneumonia, eye infections and blindness.
Common symptoms:
discharge from the penis or vagina
pain or burning while urinating
frequent urination
excessive vaginal bleeding
abdominal pain
nausea, fever
painful intercourse for women
inflammation of the rectum/inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis)
swelling or pain in the testicles.
Seventy five percent of women and twenty five percent of men with Chlamydia have no symptoms. Many women discover they have Chlamydia only because their partners find out they have the disease or when they are treated for infertility.
Symptoms usually appear within seven to 21 days.
Gonorrhoea
is a bacterium that can cause sterility, arthritis, heart problems and disorders of the central nervous system. In women, gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can result in ectopic pregnancy or sterility. During pregnancy, gonorrhoea infections can cause premature labour and stillbirth. To prevent serious eye infections that are caused by gonorrhoea in newborn babies, drops of silver nitrate are routinely put into the eyes of infants immediately after delivery. The symptoms or a smear test is used to diagnose gonorrhoea, not a blood test.Common symptoms in women:
frequent, often burning urination, pelvic pain, a green or yellow-green discharge from the vagina, swelling or tenderness of the vulva and even arthritic pain. Eighty
percent of women with gonorrhoea show no symptoms and if they appear it is usually within 10 days.
Common symptoms in men:
a pus like discharge from the urethra or pain during urination. Ten percent of men with gonorrhoea show no symptoms and if they appear it is usually within 1-14 days.
Syphilis
is spread from vaginal, anal, oral intercourse, kissing and during pregnancy. Untreated, the syphilis bacterium,“spirochete,” can remain in the body for life and lead to
disfigurement, mental disorder or death. Syphilis is especially contagious when sores are present early in the disease; the liquid that oozes from them is very infectious.
People are usually not contagious during the latent phase. Untreated syphilis may remain latent for many years or a
The effect of syphilis on a foetus is very serious. If untreated, the risks of stillbirth or serious birth defects are high. Birth defects include damage to the heart and brain as well as blindness. Pregnant women with syphilis can be treated to prevent damage to the foetus. Syphilis is diagnosed by doing a blood test.
Common symptoms:
Syphilis has several phases that may overlap one another. They do not always follow in the same sequence. Symptoms vary with each phase but there are no symptoms most of the time.
Primary Phase: Sores or chancres often appear from three weeks to 90 days after infection. They last three to six weeks and can appear on the genitals, in the vagina, on the cervix, lips, mouth or anus. Swollen glands may also occur during the primary phase.
Secondary Phase: Other symptoms often appear from
three-six weeks after the sore appears. They may come and go for up to two years. They include body rashes on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet that often last from two to six weeks. There are many other symptoms including mild fever, fatigue, sore throat, hair loss, weight loss, swollen glands, headache and muscle pain.
Latent (present but not evident or active) Phase: No symptoms. Latent phases occur between other phases or can overlap them.
Late Phase: One-third of untreated people with syphilis experience serious damage of the nervous system, heart, brain or other organs and death may result.During pregnancy, herpes may cause miscarriage or stillbirth. If active herpes infections are present during childbirth, newborn infants may suffer serious health damage including
developmental disabilities and, rarely, death.
Common symptoms.
A recurring rash with clusters of blistery sores appearing on
the vagina, cervix, penis, mouth, anus, buttocks or elsewhere on the body.
Pain and discomfort around the infected area, itching,
burning sensations.
During urination, swollen glands in the groin, fever, headache and a general run down feeling.
Symptoms usually appear from 2-20 days after infection but it may be years before the primary outbreak occurs.
Recurrences are sometimes related to emotional, physical or health stresses. During recurrences, it is important to observe strict rules of day-to-day hygiene. Wash hands frequently and do not touch the sores. If the sores are touched inadvertently, wash hands immediately. Be particularly careful when handling
contact lenses. There is no cure for Herpes but symptoms may be very mild and need not interfere with daily living.
Other Types of STIs: Possible Symptoms Treatment
Chancrous boil, ulcer, bubo, pain urination, etc
Antibiotics Crabs/Pubic Lice intense itching, fever,
irritability
Ointment Genital Warts burning urination, pus,
discharge
Antibiotics Hepatitis-B Virus
(HBV
fatigue, fever,
headache, nausea, etc
None Human Immuno-
deficiency Virus (HIV)
weight loss, diarrhoea, fatigue, fever, etc
No Cure Human Papilloma Virus warts on genitals, tenderness, soreness No Cure Monilia/Candida (yeast infection)
itching, burning Ointment Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease (PID)
fever, nausea, vomiting, pain, discharge
Antibiotics/ Surgery Scabies (mites) intense itching, bumps,
rashes
Ointments Trichomoniasis (trich) smelly vaginal
discharge, itching
Antibiotics
5)
Video/Discussion
. Before showing a video on STIs, see if there are any index cards containing participants questions.While the video is showing, you and the guest speaker can read the questions and prepare to answer them afterwards.
After showing the video, ask participants if they learned any new information that was not covered in earlier discussions. Have the guest speaker answer questions (including the ones on the index cards).
Ask participants to role-play the following situations.
A partner has been diagnosed with an STI. How does the other partner respond to this information? Process the role-play and ask participants to give their reaction. Ask if healing can take place in this situation? If so, how?
6)
Summary/Wrap-Up
Ask participants to:
name at least four common STIs including how they are transmitted, symptoms and if they can be cured.
identify at least three factors contributing to increased STIs.
ask participants how they would communicate information about STIs to others.
encourage participants to attend other Christian FLE