Sexually transmitted diseases in postpubertal female rape victims

Article Abstract:

It is estimated that only 10 to 33 percent of all sexual assault cases are reported. However, studies also estimate that medical personnel treat more than 81,000 patients each year for complications resulting from such assaults. These complications include physical injuries, psychological problems, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This article describes the results of a study designed to determine the risk of acquiring STDs following a sexual assault. Between April of 1983 and May of 1986, 188 women who had been sexually assaulted were evaluated and treated at a New York hospital. The average age of the victims was 22 years. Fifty-six of the victims were single and 57 were assaulted by one assailant. Seventy-six of the women were examined at a hospital emergency room within 60 hours of the assault. During the emergency room visit, the women were treated with penicillin or tetracycline. Twenty-six percent of the 76 victims were diagnosed as having active infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis). The estimated risk of acquiring this type of infection following an assault was estimated to be between 3 and 16 percent. Fifty percent of the women examined had bacterial vaginosis; infection was associated with sexual assault in 8 of the 38 women. Twenty-two percent of the victims were found to have trichomoniasis; 5 of these 17 women may have contracted the infection when they were assaulted. Pelvic inflammatory disease was diagnosed in 11 percent of the victims. Since only 76 percent of the patients returned for a scheduled follow-up visit, it is recommended that all sexual assault victims be treated with ceftriaxone (250 milligrams), doxycycline (100 milligrams) and metronidazole (twice a day for one week) as a precautionary measure. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Sexually transmitted diseases, Risk factors, Medical examination, Drug therapy, Diseases, Disease transmission, Abused women, Rape, Rape victims

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Trichomonas in pregnancy

Article Abstract:

It may be appropriate to begin studies evaluating the effectiveness of metronidazole in pregnant women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. A study has shown women infected with T. vaginalis to be at a 40% increased risk for delivering a low-birth-weight infant prematurely. Nearly all of the recently published studies have found no increased risk for birth defects in pregnant women treated with metronidazole. However, metronidazole has been shown to change the genetic makeup of bacteria. Metronidazole treatment also has been associated with facial birth defects in isolated pregnancies.

Health aspects, Editorial, Management, Prevention, Birth weight, Low, Low birth weight, Premature birth, Metronidazole, Pregnancy, Complications of, Pregnancy complications, Trichomonas vaginalis, Trichomonas

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Sexually transmitted diseases: a retrospective

Article Abstract:

The history of the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases is presented. It began in 1974 as the Journal of the American Venereal Disease Association, although its predecessor was first published in 1917 as the American Journal of Syphilis.

History, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Periodical)

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