- Approximately 15 million new cases of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)’s
are reported in the United States annually.
- At least one-quarter of these new infections are identified among
teenagers.
- The economic burden of these infections is estimated at $10 billion
annually.
- Adding HIV infection increases this cost estimate to $17 billion
annually.
- A good proportion of the direct costs of STD’s result from failure
to detect and treat these infections in their initial stages.
The diagnosis of an STD can denote infection with any one or more of 25
infectious agents.
Chlamydia
Asymptomatic STDs provide enhanced opportunities to spread and infect
others. For example,
chlamydia, the most common bacterial
STD in the United States, may be treated easily with antibiotics.
However, 85% of the women infected do not know it because they have no
symptoms; and 40% of the infected men report no symptoms, as well. In
general, if an individual experiences no pain or discomfort, it is
highly unlikely that she or he will seek medical attention. Hence, the
infection continues to spread and, in women, may result in a variety of
complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, or
ectopic pregnancy.
Syphilis
Infectious syphilis, an easily diagnosed and highly curable disease,
has reported record low morbidity for the past five years in Broward
County, even lower than the Florida and United States case rates.
A Syphilis Elimination Initiative has been adopted as a
national goal by the CDC. The goals are to reduce infectious syphilis
cases to 1,000 or fewer per year (syphilis rate less than 0.4 per 100,000), and
to increase the number of syphilis-free counties to 90% by 2005. Two
major implications for the elimination of infectious syphilis would be (1) lower
rates of HIV transmission and (2) decreased congenital syphilis births
to infected mothers, resulting in lower fetal and infant mortality rates.
Broward County was making progress towards the syphilis elimination goal with
a rate of 0.9 per 100,000 in 1998. Unfortunately, Broward’s infectious syphilis
rate per 100,000 increased 33% to 1.2 in 1999. It then increased an additional
75% to 2.1 in 2000, the highest rate since 1995.
Geographically, Broward County meets all the requirements for a
Potential Re-emergence area, and the documented increases in infectious
syphilis in 1999-2000 continue through the first quarter of 2001. The
critical ingredients for potential re-emergence are:
· a history of high syphilis rates in the 1990s
· located on a border or along migrant streams
· a drug trafficking corridor
· a home for groups disproportionately affected by syphilis
(such as drug users, sex workers, men having sex with men, and minority
populations adversely affected by high rates of unemployment and
poverty).
The spread of infectious syphilis in Broward also may be attributed to
international tourism, "spring breakers," and a re-emergence of bathhouses,
bars, and clubs permitting patrons to engage in anonymous sexual activity.
A mutually monogamous sexual relationship is the safest STD
prevention method. If that is not possible for you or your partner, you must
reduce your number of sexual partners, and use condoms correctly each and every
time you have sex. These are the best methods to reduce your risk of exposure to
syphilis, HIV, and other STD.
For more information on the BCHD STD Program, contact Carla Hardnett,
Program Coordinator, at (954) 767-5088 |