In: Biology
A female patient who is 18 was not experiencing any symptoms but tested positive for two sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
-From a public health viewpoint, what should happen next?
-How is it possible that the patient was diagnosed with two infectious diseases, since she wasn't experiencing any symptoms?
18 year old female patient, asymptomatic, tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea indicate that she is suffering from Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Risk factors of PID are:- Multiple sexual partners, Early age of intercourse, Douching, Low Socioeconomic status. If she has sexually transmitted Diseases, it means that she had an intercourse and she is 18 only. So it becomes a risk factor.
From a public health point of view, all the history of her previous intercourse must be taken from her and all her partners must be screened as from them only, she has got the disease. If they are found positive, then they must be given appropriate treatment for the Disease.
PID is a chronic condition. It involves female genital tract. It involves Endometrium, Fallopian tubes, ovaries and peritoneum. It doesn't involve Cervix and vaginal area because they are lined by Squamous epithelium. And squamous epithelium is resistant to Gonorrhea. So from transition from Vaginal area ➡️ Cervix ➡️ Endometrium ➡️Fallopian tube➡️ Ovaries ➡️ Peritoneum, requires a large time. Therefore the female is now showing no symptoms. She may be carrying the infection in endocervix which is the most common site for asymptomatic carriage of disease.