Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Therapy

STD and HIV Infection

The term STD refers to a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are another term for STDs. STDs are infections that are transmitted from one person to another by sexual activity, such as anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Bacteria, parasites, and viruses are all responsible for STDs. The organisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) can spread from person to person by blood, sperm, vaginal, and other bodily fluids. These infections can sometimes be passed from mother to kid non-sexually, such as during pregnancy or childbirth, or through blood transfusions or sharing needles.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that affects cells in the body that help it fight infections, making a person more susceptible to other infections and diseases. Contact with certain bodily fluids of an HIV-positive individual, most commonly during unprotected intercourse (sex without the use of a condom or HIV treatment to prevent or treat HIV), or sharing injection drug equipment spreads the virus. If HIV is not treated, it can progress to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

• Transmission
• Prevention
• Diagnosis
• Natural History
• Treatment of Infections
• Sexual Transmission
• Sexual Health