STDs: The Dangerous and The Deadly
Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STDs have been a clear and present danger since the dawn of man.
In the past three decades however SDs have taken a quick turn from the dangerous and disgusting to the deadly with the rise of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Today after three decades of research we are still a good way away from developing a good, reliable, HIV cure or vaccine.
That means that protection is the only way to prevent an infection with one of the most widespread and dangerous diseases out there.
And it isn’t even the easiest STD to catch, nor the most widespread. So if you’ve had any sexual contact with another person in the last year or so take a look at the following then go get an STD panel for complete body checkup.
Here is a list of the worst STD offenders and how to combat them.
Herpex Simplex
Easy to get, impossible to ever shake off the Herpes Simplex virus is one of the most widespread sexually transmitted diseases out there.
It can be contracted through exchange of bodily fluids and the worst part is that they don’t even have to be sexual fluids. Yes, the Herpes Simplex is for life and you can get it through kissing the wrong person!
Fortunately, apart from periodic rash-like manifestations it is harmless.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is not generally preeminently featured as a sexual transmitted disease although it is sometimes spread through sexual contact and is difficult to cure (though, apparently, not for long ).
Hepatitis C is a disease that affects the liver and often leads to cirrhosis of the liver and from there to liver failure or cancer. Over 150 millionpeople are believed to be infected with Hepatitis C at a global level.
Syphilis
Syphilis used to be the most widespread, most dangerous STD known to man until HIV was discovered. Even today, syphilis is dangerous and quite common (12 million cases in 1999) especially in the poorer parts of the world where STD testing isn’t readily available.
Syphilis is an insidious disease because it has variable symptoms and several stages and is hard to pinpoint as the cause of the symptoms (without a doctor).
Although it is easily treated with antibiotics nowadays it still poses a significant health concern and should be tested for regularly.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are two bacterial diseases that manifest similarly: A dripping white excretion from the sexual organ. Chlamidia is one of the most widespread Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the world and can affect the eyes as well.
Gonorrhea is asymptomatic in women who can easily act as unwitting carriers. Left untreated the disease can spread throughout the body and even affect heart valves.
Both types of infections can lead to sterility in both men and women so it is crucial to seek medical help at the first sign of disease.
HIV/AIDS
HIV is the only STD that is still incurable. A disease caused by the HIV virus, AIDS basically destroys a person’s immune system completely.
Although advances have been made in both treatment courses to slow down the progress of the disease in individuals and public awareness campaigns to stop its spread at a global level over 34 million people have been infected with HIV since it was first discovered and 30 million of those people are now dead.
