Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness week is April 12-18 and happens to fall during a pandemic. To educate and assist patients who might be experiencing symptoms during this time, SIU Medicine OB-GYN Nurse Practitioner Kaylie Caswell, answered a few questions. Note: We're using STD (sexually transmitted disease) and STI (sexually transmitted infection) interchangeably, but there is a difference. Infections are often the first stage of a disease and can occur if bacteria or viruses enter the body and start multiplying. The disruption these bacteria or viruses cause in the body