Answer

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are often passed from one individual to another during unprotected sex with an infected person. The following are common STDs alongside their symptoms, and possible treatment mechanisms: 

Chlamydia

Symptoms: (Page et al, 2013)

Women

·         Pain or burning sensation when urinating in women

·         Vaginal discharge

·         Heavy periods

·         Pain after or during intercourse

·         Lower abdominal pain after or during intercourse

·         Bleeding between periods

·         Bleeding after or during sex

Men

• Burning sensation or pain during urination
• Cloudy, watery, or white discharge from the penis’ tip
• Tenderness or pain in testicles

Treatment

• Administration of antibiotics

Genital Warts

Caused by HPV (human papilloma virus) (Page et al, 2013)

Symptoms

• Can lead to bleeding
• Redness or itching of sexual organs

Treatment

• Cryotherapy (freezing the wart) and application of creams

Genital Herpes

Caused by HSV (herpes simplex virus) (Garrido-Mesa et al, 2013)

Symptoms

• Small and painful sores or blisters, which are tingling or itchy
• Pain during urination

Treatment

• HSV lack cure, but its symptoms can be regulated using antiviral medicines

Gonorrhoea

Symptoms: (Garrido-Mesa et al, 2013)

Women

• Burning sensation or pain when urinating
• Yellow, watery, or green vaginal discharge
• Lower abdominal pain after or during intercourse
• Bleeding after or during intercourse
• Heavy periods in some occasions

Men

• Burning sensation or pain when urinating
• Green, white or yellow discharge from the penis’ tip
• Tenderness or pain in the testicles

Treatment

• Administration of antibiotics

Syphilis

Symptoms: (Page et al, 2013)

Early Stages/Primary Symptoms

• Highly infectious, painless sore around the mouth or on the genitals

Secondary Symptoms

• Rash
• Flu-like illness
• Patchy hair loss

Tertiary Symptoms (Occurs after many years)

• Serious conditions like paralysis, blindness, and heart attack

Treatment

• Antibiotics, particularly penicillin

HIV

Symptoms

• Many individuals having HIV often appear and feel healthy, and reveal no symptoms (Planinkas et al, 2015)

Treatment

• Lack s cure, but its effects can be minimized by taking anti-retroviral drugs

Trichomoniasis

Caused by TV (Trichomonas vaginalis) (Garrido-Mesa et al, 2013)

Symptoms: (Page et al, 2013)

Women

• Watery or frothy yellow vaginal discharge having an unpleasant smell
• Itching or soreness around the vagina
• Pain when urinating

Men

• An inflamed foreskin
• Whitish discharge
• Burning or pain after urination

Treatment

• Antibiotic administration

Pubic lice

Symptoms: (Page et al, 2013)

·         Presence of eggs or lies on the hairs (pubic, underarm or body hair)

·         Itchiness

Treatment

·        Special shampoos or creams

Scabies

Symptoms: (Garrido-Mesa et al, 2013)

·         Intense itching that worsens at night on the genital area, between fingers, breasts, arms, ankles or wrinkles

·         Tiny spots or rash

Treatment

·        Special shampoos or creams

Application of EBP (Evidence-Based Practice) in Developing Holistic Care of Plan for STDs Patients

The significance of EBP in the development of care plans for patients cannot be overlooked in the nursing practice (Eizenberg, 2011). In developing an effective care plan for patients with STDs, I would begin by focusing on the issue of interest (i.e. the STD of interest) followed by formulating that issue into a question that can be searched and answered. I will then proceed to find the best evidence to address the question and determine the value of the evidence. The last step will be the application of the evidence to my clinical practice and assessment of the application (i.e. developed care plan).