Sexually Transmitted Viral Infections

Abstract

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) of viral origin comprise the most prevalent STDs on earth. The impact of viral STDs is compounded because, while they are treatable, they are not curable. Symptoms of infection are dependent on the type of infecting virus and can range from immune deficiency to skin lesions, warts, and cancer. Because of advances in antiviral therapies and rapid molecular diagnostics, patients harbor long-term, yet manageable conditions with this group of STDs. ABBREVIATIONS: STD - Sexually Transmitted Disease, HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HSV - Herpes simplex virus, HPV - Human Papillomavirus, ssRNA - single stranded RNA, CDC - Center for Disease Control, NAT - Nucleic Acid Test, ART - Antiretroviral Therapy, NIH - National Institutes of Health, AIDS - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, CCR5 - C-C chemokine receptor, CSF - cerebral spinal fluid