For example, the number of new reported cases of syphilis rose from in to in Results: We discuss sexually transmitted infections presenting with genital, anal, perianal, or oral ulcers, urethritis, cervicitis, urethral or vaginal discharge, or genital warts. Acquired sexually transmitted infections elevate the risk of transmission of other sexually transmitted infections; thus, patients presenting for the diagnosis or treatment of any kind of sexually transmitted infection should be evaluated for others as well.
Factors impeding effective treatment include antibiotic resistance an increasing problem and the late diagnosis of HIV and HCV infections. Molecular genetic diagnostic techniques should be made widely available.
Sexually transmitted infections are caused by a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are communicated from one human being to another primarily by vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact. Different sexually transmitted infections STIs can be present or be transmitted simultaneously, and the presence of any such infection increases the risk of contracting other types of STI. Sexually transmitted infections are often oligo- or asymptomatic.
According to the World Health Organization WHO , sexually transmitted infections are one of the five types of disease for which adults around the world most commonly seek medical help 1. The current state of the data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in Germany does not permit any reliable conclusions about infection rates, except for those of two diseases: human immunodeficiency virus HIV and syphilis 2.
Sexually transmitted infections can cause severe fetal and neonatal damage, genital neoplasia, and infertility. A number of diagnostic strategies and tests, of variable quality, are available for the individual pathogens. The diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms can generally be tailored to the leading clinical manifestations if the patient is symptomatic. Thus, sexually transmitted infections can usefully be classified by their presenting features, as follows:.
