NSG PATHO Exam 4 Study Guide UNITS 8, 9, & 10 FALL 2025 Galen college

PATHO 3280 Exam 4 Study Guide - UNITS 8, 9, & 10



UNIT 8
Gonorrhea
Pathophysiology & Etiology

 Associated with gram negative bacteria diplococcus N. gonorrheae
 Transmission
o Exudates of an infected person makes direct contact with
mucous membranes of another person
o Leads to inflammatory response in the columnar epithelium of
infected area
 Occurs most often in teens and young adults

Clinical Manifestations

 Women
o Often asymptomatic
o Purulent discharge
o Dysuria
o Vaginal bleeding
o Commonly infected areas
 Cervix
 Urethra
 Skene glands (located on either side of urethra – function
unknown)
 Bartholin glands (located on either side of the vagina –
creates lubricating mucus)
 Anus
 Men
o Occurs after 3-6 days of incubation
o Dysuria
o Purulent urethra discharge with redness and swelling

Complications

 Women
o Salpingitis
o Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

, o Ectopic pregnancy (due to scar tissue formation from
inflammation)
 Men
o Epididymitis
 Both genders
o Inflammation in other areas are also possible due to lymphatic
spread
 Pharynx
 Conjunctivae
o Urinary issues or infertility due to fibrosis/scarring from
inflammation

Chlamydia
Pathophysiology & Etiology

 Associated with chlamydia trachomatis
 Transmission
o Exudates of an infected person makes direct contact with
mucous membranes of another person
 Leads to inflammatory response in the columnar
epithelium of infected area
o Mom to baby: “ophthalmia neonatorum”: infected eyes of
newborns during birth
 Occurs most often in people ≤ 24 years old

Clinical Manifestations

 Symptoms usually less severe than gonorrhea
 Women
o Often asymptomatic
o Urethritis
o Cervicitis
 Men
o Urethritis

Complications

 Women
o Salpingitis
o Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

, o Ectopic pregnancy (due to scar tissue formation from
inflammation)
 Men
o Epididymitis
 Both genders
o Infertility due to fibrosis/scarring from inflammation




Syphilis
Pathophysiology & Etiology

 Caused by an infection of treponema pallidum
 Transmission:
o Enters through mucus membranes or abraded skin (sexual
contact) and travels through the lymph system
 Inflammatory response in the vessels -> small artery &
arteriole function is decreased
 Long term inflammation leads to fibrous thickening of
blood vessels and tissue necrosis
o Can also enter via the placenta
 Inflammation in the fetus doesn’t happen until week 15 of
the pregnancy
 Mom should be treated prior to this. If not, baby can have
physical and developmental disabilities.

Clinical Manifestations

 Five phases
o Incubation
 The first 10-90 days after the pathogen invades
o Primary
 3-6 weeks
 Chancre (painless ulceration) formed at the site of initial
infection
 Usually genital area
 Women may be asymptomatic because chancre is often
inside vagina or on cervix
o Secondary
 Often self-limiting

,  Low-grade fever, malaise
 Sore throat
 Headache
 Lymphadenopathy
 Mucosal and/or skin rash
o Latent
 Time is variable – around 40 years
 Asymptomatic except mucocutaneous lesions early on
 Can still be contagious in early latency
 Blood tests still + despite no symptoms
 2/3 patients remain in this stage and never progress to the
late stage



5. Late
i. Symptoms depend on the area affected
ii. Most common areas
1. Cardiovascular
a. Aortic stenosis
b. Aortic insufficiency
2. Central Nervous System
a. Degeneration of cortical neurons leading to
paresis, blindness, and altered mental status

Herpes Simplex

 Caused by infection of the herpes simplex virus
 Transmission
o Both types: via sexual contact
o Type 2 also mom to baby via vaginal delivery
 Initial infection leads to self-limiting lesions that heal
 Virus remains latent in the neural ganglia and reactivates during
physical/emotional stress or immunosuppression.

Clinical Manifestations

 Type 1
o Above waist – mouth, lips, eyes, etc.
o 1-2 days of paresthesia prior to skin lesions
o Single or a cluster of tender vesicles that then crust and heal
(Happens over 3-10 days)