Prejudice and stigma can discourage the communities most affected by infectious diseases from seeking care. Inclusive public health messaging can prevent misinformation and guide the most vulnerable.
The Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium causes gonorrhea by infecting mucous membranes.
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The US currently has only one antibiotic available to treat gonorrhea – and it’s becoming less effective.
Monkeypox is transmitted mainly through direct contact with skin lesions, but the current outbreak is following patterns similar to STIs.
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Monkeypox is not considered an STI but is spreading among sexual partners. Adding sexual health strategies to the public health response is helpful, but there is a danger of stigmatizing MPXV.
Does a painting from 1400 depict one of Jesus’ torturers as suffering from ‘saddle nose,’ a common effect of syphilis?
Detail of an Austrian painting c. 1400 of the Passion of Christ, The Cleveland Museum of Art
The idea that Europeans brought new diseases to the Americas and returned home with others has been widely accepted. But evidence is mounting that for syphilis this scenario is wrong.
One child in three is physically or sexually abused or witnesses violence between adults in their home. Other adversities including emotional neglect, living in an unsafe neighbourhood or experiencing prejudice and bullying are even more common.
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One in three children experiences abuse or neglect. These adverse events increase lifelong risks for chronic diseases and mental health issues, creating a public health hazard hiding in plain sight.
You can have this STI without knowing it, or have symptoms, it can affect men and women, and it can be treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, it may cause complications.
Australia’s year 10-12 students are getting good marks when it comes to sexual health, according to new research out today. But there’s room for improvement.
Syphilis can cause vision loss, and it’s on the rise.
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Superbugs used to pose the greatest risk to people with compromised immune systems and those who had surgery. But their sexual transmission means antibiotic resistance can spread much more widely.
Nancy Berglas, University of California, San Francisco and Jillian Eversole, University of California, San Francisco
Understanding where teens learn about sex and how that influences them can help us find ways to encourage healthy sexual behaviors, such as using condoms and birth control.
Few women have heard of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and often confuse its symptoms with thrush. But improper treatment of BV can lead to persistent symptoms and distress.
Over the past few years we’ve seen a dramatic rise in the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Australians aged 60 years and older.
Syphilis outbreaks tend to occur in marginalised populations where there is a lack of affordable, appropriate and culturally acceptable health care.
yaruman5/Flickr
James Ward, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute; Donna B Mak, University of Notre Dame Australia; Johanna Dups, Australian National University, and Nathan Ryder, University of Newcastle
The syphilis outbreak in Central Australia is not about child abuse. But it highlights the urgent need for investment in sexual health services for Aboriginal Australians living in remote areas.
So what have we got?
Davepape/Painting by John Vanderlyn
In 1495 a horrific new disease appeared in Europe. Acquired by sexual contact and initially spread through Europe by mercenary soldiers from the army of King Charles VIII of France returning from a successful…