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Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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Dermatology in Public Health Environments

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Abstract

The majority of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have no symptoms or only mild symptoms that may not be recognized as an STD. The most common conditions they cause are gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, trichomoniasis, chancroid, genital herpes, genital warts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and hepatitis B infection. Drug resistance is a major threat to reducing the impact of STDs worldwide. When used correctly and consistently, condoms offer one of the most effective methods of protection against STDs, including HIV. Female condoms are effective and safe, but are not used as widely as male condoms by national programs. This chapter presents the main aspects of a major problem for public health. Dermatology can be very important for the management and control of STDs.

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Abbreviations

AIDS:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

EIA:

Enzyme immunoassay

FTA-ABS:

Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

HPV:

Human papillomavirus

LCR:

Ligase chain reaction

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

RPR:

Rapid plasma reagin

STDs:

Sexually transmitted diseases

STIS:

Sexually transmitted infections

TP:

Treponema pallidum

TPHA:

Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay

TPI:

Treponema pallidum immobilization

VDRL:

Venereal disease research laboratory

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Walter Belda Jr

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  1. Walter Belda Jr
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Service, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/HCPA, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Renan Rangel Bonamigo

Glossary

Condyloma lata

A cutaneous manifestation of secondary syphilis and can be misdiagnosed as genital warts. It is characterized by flat plates that occur most often in moist skin areas, especially around the genitals and anus.

Condyloma acuminata

Wart-like growths around the anus, vulva, or glans penis. Genital warts are symptoms of a contagious STD caused by some types of human papillomavirus.

Donovan bodies

Bacillary intracellular inclusions in macrophages are called Donovan bodies.

Esthiomene

A condition in which there is chronic hypertrophy and destructive ulceration of the external genitals of the female. The labia may be enlarged, thickened, and fibrotic. It is analogous to elephantiasis.

Gumma

A growth with a firm, necrotic center surrounded by inflamed tissue, which forms an amorphous proteinaceous mass. The central regions begin to die through coagulative necrosis and ulcerate. Other diseases, as well as syphilis, may exhibit gummas.

Rupioid crust

The term rupioid has been used to describe cone-shaped plaques with thick, dark lamellate, and adherent crusts on the skin that resemble an oyster or shell.

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Belda, W. (2023). Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In: Rangel Bonamigo, R. (eds) Dermatology in Public Health Environments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13505-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13505-7_8

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