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Mother Your aunt is suffering from a sexually transn1itted
infection.Uncle took her to the hospital last week
for a checkup. No need to be worried. She is getting
treatment as per the doctor's advice. She will be well
after the treatment according to the doctor.

Shushila What type of disease is a sexually transn1itted
infection? Could you tell me something about it?

Mother Why not. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an
infection transmitted from an infected person to an
uninfected person through sexual contact. AIDS,
Syphilis, Human Papillomavirus, gonorrhea, etc. are
some examples of STDs.

Shushila How do these STDs spread, mother?

Mother There are various ways, daughter. If a person has
sexual intercourse with the infected person, it can be
transmitted to that person. It can also pass to the un-
infected through a non-sterile syringe used by the in-
fected ones. It can spread through sharing the toilets
used by the infected persons. Blood transmission, shar-
ing sheets, towels, clothes and used razors are the me-
diums of STD transmission.

Shushila Can't these diseases be treated, mother?

Mother Treatment is available for all sexually transmitted in-
fections (STis), but a cure is not possible for all. Some
STDs can be cured with medicines. Although there is
no cure for HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) and
AIDs (Acquired Imn1une Deficiency Syndrome), medi-
cine is available free of cost in health institutions to
reduce their effect.

Shushila What is the main cause of AIDS, mother? What are its
symptoms?

Mother HIV is the main cause of it. When it enters into the body,
it damages the body's immune system. As a result, the

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