Week 14 Eng Sexually Transmitted Disease

Summary

This lecture by Miss Kenan in Maternity Nursing II explores reproductive system disorders in women, focusing on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia. It covers causes, transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and nursing care, emphasizing prevention, patient education, and counseling. The session highlights the importance of early detection, safe sexual practices, and treatment adherence to prevent complications such as infertility, cervical cancer, and opportunistic infections. Nurses are guided to assess patient history, provide comfort measures, and support women in managing and preventing STDs effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 HIV/AIDS weakens the immune system, transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. Regular HIV testing for pregnant women is essential to avoid transmission to the baby.
• 😀 Currently, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) can help manage the virus and prevent progression to AIDS.
• 😀 Genital herpes is caused by HSV-1 (oral) and HSV-2 (genital), with symptoms like painful blisters and flu-like symptoms. Antiviral drugs help suppress symptoms but there's no cure.
• 😀 HPV can cause genital warts, which are wart-like growths on the genitals. Vaccines are available to prevent cervical cancer, which is linked to HPV.
• 😀 Gonorrhea, caused by *Neisseria gonorrhoeae* bacteria, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Treatment includes antibiotics like ceftriaxone.
• 😀 Syphilis, caused by *Treponema pallidum*, has three stages: primary (painless chancre), secondary (skin rashes), and tertiary (neurological damage). Penicillin G is used to treat all stages.
• 😀 Chlamydia is often asymptomatic in women and can cause yellow vaginal discharge and painful urination. It's treated with antibiotics like azithromycin and doxycycline.
• 😀 STDs can be prevented by using condoms, practicing abstinence, and regular testing. Educating patients on safe sexual practices is crucial.
• 😀 Nursing care for women with STDs involves counseling, education about prevention, and addressing concerns like anxiety, fear, and potential impact on self-esteem.
• 😀 STDs can have serious long-term effects if left untreated, including infertility, chronic pain, and the potential for transmission to sexual partners. Timely treatment and prevention are key to managing these risks.

Q & A

What is HIV and how is it transmitted?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that weakens the immune system, making the body susceptible to infections. It is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, urine, saliva, tears, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, breast milk, intimate contact with infected fluids, and from mother to infant during pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding.

Why is HIV testing important for pregnant women?

HIV testing in pregnant women is crucial to prevent transmission to the baby. Tests include antibody, antigen-antibody, and nucleic acid tests. Women must provide consent and can opt out of testing.

What are the differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2?

HSV-1 typically causes oral infections and provides some immunity against HSV-2. HSV-2 causes genital lesions. Primary HSV-2 infections are more severe than recurrent episodes, which remain contagious but less painful.

How are genital herpes lesions managed in nursing care?

Management includes wound cleaning, comfort measures such as warm sitz baths and analgesics, antiviral therapy (e.g., acyclovir), abstaining from sexual contact during active lesions, and patient education about transmission and recurrence.

What is human papillomavirus (HPV) and what risks does it pose?

HPV is a virus that causes genital warts (condylomata acuminata) and is associated with cervical cancer. Warts can appear in clusters or as small growths on the vagina, labia, cervix, or perineal area.

What are the treatment options for HPV-induced genital warts?

Treatment includes topical agents (trichloroacetic acid, bichloroacetic acid), cryotherapy, laser therapy, conisation, interferon therapy, and antineoplastic drugs. HPV vaccination is also available for prevention.

How is gonorrhea diagnosed and treated?

Gonorrhea is diagnosed using positive cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Symptoms include purulent discharge, dysuria, and dyspareunia. Treatment involves antibiotics such as cefixime, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin, with simultaneous treatment of sexual partners.

Describe the stages of syphilis and their clinical features.

Syphilis has three stages: primary (painless chancre), secondary (rash, condylomata lata, systemic symptoms), and tertiary (affects CNS and vessels, causing paralysis or psychosis). Diagnosis uses serologic tests such as VDRL, RPR, and FTA-ABS.

Why is chlamydia often difficult to detect in women?

Chlamydia infections are frequently asymptomatic in women. Symptoms, if present, include yellow vaginal discharge and painful urination. Untreated chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.

What are the key nursing care considerations for women with STDs?

Nursing care involves educating on prevention, assessing sexual history, providing counseling using understandable language, addressing anxiety and self-esteem concerns, ensuring treatment adherence, and encouraging safe sexual practices including condom use.

What medications are used to treat bacterial STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis?

Gonorrhea: cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin. Chlamydia: doxycycline, azithromycin. Syphilis: penicillin G (with desensitization if allergic). All sexual partners should be treated to prevent reinfection.

Why is prevention emphasized as the most effective strategy for managing STDs?

Prevention is critical because many STDs have serious long-term effects and some are incurable. Strategies include abstaining from sexual activity, using barrier methods such as condoms, HPV vaccination, and patient education to minimize the risk of infection.