Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Trichomoniasis is caused by trichomonas vaginalis, a protozoan pathogen, or type of parasite. Despite being the most common of all STDs of consequence, data on its global occurrence are badly inadequate. This disease, transmitted mainly by sexual intercourse, is manifested by vaginitis in women (approximately 50% of those infected have symptoms) and urethritis in men. Men have symptoms for only a brief period, but can easily transmit the parasite to their female sex partners during that period. Metronidazole, usually as a single oral dose, is the effective treatment of choice for trichomoniasis. This common disease, despite seldom resulting in clinical complications, has recently increased in priority for clinicians and prevention programs as new studies have shown that genital inflammation associated with trichomoniasis greatly increases the risk of acquiring other STDs, including HIV. It is thought, that in some populations of the world, the high prevalence of trichomoniasis may explain the explosiveness of the HIV epidemic they have experienced. Unfortunately, laboratory tests for diagnosis are not always available in developing nations.