The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its 2010
sexually transmitted disease (STD) ranking for the top 65 counties
and independent cities with the highest rates of syphilis,
gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>St. Louis
was one of
them.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>St. Louis
ranks
2nd in chlamydia, 3rd in gonorrhea and
20th in syphilis in 2010.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Ninety percent of the gonorrhea and chlamydia cases are African Americans between 15 and 24,” said Pam Rice Walker, City Health Director. “That young age group is not aware of their risk, and they are not aware of how to prevent it. These diseases are 100 percent preventable.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She said a better job of outreach to parents, schools and to partners in that age group is required, along with having the tough conversations about sex and how they can protect themselves.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Our message is, ‘You’ve got enough things going on in your life as a young adult. Don’t complicate it with an STD,’” Walker said. “And the only way to be sure to protect yourself is to abstain.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Long term, the city says gonorrhea cases are going down in St. Louis; the number of syphilis cases is small, but flat; and the number of chlamydia cases is going up.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Walker
said the
numbers of gonorrhea cases in St. Louis are the result of testing
combined with disease investigation.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Nationally, the CDC reports the trends are troubling in all three of these treatable and preventable diseases. Reported rates of gonorrhea increased slightly in 2010, and the CDC says there are signs from other CDC surveillance systems that the disease may become resistant to the only available treatment.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Chlamydia cases have been increasing steadily for two decades, and the CDC says it’s due to expanded screening efforts. However, the CDC says less than half of sexually active young women are screened for chlamydia as recommended.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The more we test for chlamydia, the more we are going to find,” Walker said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Chlamydia is symptomless for the most part, and it can cause infertility in women.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Women have a slight symptom, we call it a drip – it’s just moisture they may not recognize as chlamydia,” Walker said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Men have no symptoms at all.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“For every woman that has chlamydia, there’s a man that has it too, so we started testing men in 2010 and I think that is showing up,” she said. “We are one of the few cities that does that.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The overall rate of syphilis has decreased nationally for the first time in a decade. However, the CDC says there has been a 134 percent increase in syphilis among young black men who have sex with men. The CDC describes this as particularly concerning as there has also been a sharp increase in HIV infections in the same group.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Public heath officials are concerned about the increasing trend in syphilis in men who have sex with men and in women with HIV.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“All of the syphilis cases were in the HIV population, men who have sex with men (MSM),” Walker said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“ We’ve got 57 cases, so we’ve talked to all of them and what we are hearing is that they know they are positive for HIV; they hook up with somebody they know is positive with HIV – and then they feel like they can have sex without a condom. And so, what they are doing is spreading syphilis in that population.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The specific message here is that even when each partner has HIV, protection is still needed from STDs.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>It is also strongly recommended that anyone who is sexually active get tested annually for HIV.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>”We must remain vigilant in our fight against STDs,” said Walker. “We still have too many STDs, and our data show that STDs are especially prevalent in our young African-American adults.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>To read the complete report, go to http://www.tinyurl.comSTDs2010.
