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FACTS ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
  General Information
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections that people get or catch during sexual intercourse (though some can be contracted through other means like kissing, mother to unborn baby, etc.) Most common STIs are gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, chancroid, genital herpes and genital warts. Another STI is Human-Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) that results in Acquire Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
  Who Can Contract Sexually Transmitted Infections?
Anybody can catch STIs as long as they have had unprotected sex with an infected person. These infections can also be avoided through abstinence.
  Categories of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are of two categories and these are:

FIRST CATEGORY
There are many STIs of this category whereby genital sores are the common signs. Examples of STIs in this category are
Syphilis and Chancroid.

SECOND CATEGORY
Examples of STIs in this category are Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis or Chlamydial infection.
A infected person discharges pus from the genitals and sometimes feels pain or burning sensation when passing urine.
  Signs and Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Some STIs have signs and symptoms that go away without treating however, the infection remains in the body and if untreated can cause damage to different body organs.
Some of the signs and symptoms are as follows:
1)
Bad smelling discharge from genital organs.
2)
Rash, sores, lumps or blisters around or on the sex organs(s).
3)
Fever chills and general body aches.
4)
Pain or burning sensation when passing urine.
5)
Sometimes pain during sexual intercourse.
  Consequences
STIs are serious infections for both men and women. If not treated, they can cause:

 
Damage to the sex organs, normally leading to infertility ( for both men and women) and difficulty to urinate (stricture) in males.
 
Infections to unborn babies causing miscarriage, stillbirths, handicaps and blindness.
 
Dangerous pregnancies outside the womb (ectopic pregnancies).
 
Death through heart disease and brain damage.
 
HIV infection since the general skin becomes more exposed.
 
Premature deliveries.
Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections

If anyone has symptoms of STIs, do the following:

 
Get to the nearest clinic or hospital and explain properly about your problem and the time you noticed signs of the infection.
 
Allow medical tests to find out if there are other signs of the infection.
 
Listen carefully about your problem and instructions from the medical personnel.
 
Take all medicine or every injection as prescribed by the medical personnel even if signs and symptoms subside.
 
Do not take other people's medicine even though you have the same problem.
 
Take your sexual partner(s) for treatment.
 
Avoid sex until cured or use a condom each time you have sex.
 
If cured, go again to the clinic or hospital for check-up.

If you have any questions about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) go to the nearest Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) Centres or any Government Hospital for more information.

For more information contact the nearest Banja La Mtsogolo Clinic.

Banja La Mtsogolo
P.O.Box 3008
Blantyre
Malawi

Tel: (265) 01 877 671/01 873 844/01 873 240
Telfax: (265) 01 877 859
E-mail: banja@banja.org.mw

 

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