CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Regional cases of STIs on the rise last 5 years

Messenger-Inquirer - 10/4/2018

Oct. 04--Green River District Health Department records show the number of some sexually transmitted infections increased -- dramatically in some cases -- between 2013 and 2017.

For example, syphilis cases increased 74 percent during that time period. Gonorrhea cases jumped nearly 70 percent, and the number of chlamydia cases grew 20 percent.

Comparing reports from 2016 and 2017, the number of gonorrhea and syphilis cases saw sharp increases, said Jessica Austin, GRDHD senior epidemiologist. Gonorrhea cases soared from 264 in 2016 to 414 in 2017, and syphilis cases more than doubled, from nine to 23.

STIs spread through risky behaviors, including unprotected sex or having sex with multiple partners. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 20 million new STIs are diagnosed annually in the U.S. People between the ages of 15 and 24 account for half of those cases.

A CDC report showed about 60 percent of women surveyed in the 15 to 44 age group never used condoms while having sex during the preceding year. Compared to men in the same age group, about 50 percent of them reported the same behavior.

"GRDHD provides education on sexual health and prevention of STIs at all family planning visits and most all encounters during clinic services," Austin said. "Condoms are provided and available free of charge in all clinics."

Perhaps most disturbing among the health department's 2017 data was the number of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases reported among children as young as 10 to 14. Last year, 11 children in that age group contracted chlamydia and 10 were treated for gonorrhea.

The region's reported STIs increased dramatically for ages 15 to 19. Last year, 361 people in that age group were treated for chlamydia and 135 for gonorrhea.

The health department has an active Teen Outreach Program in several schools throughout the region. TOP offers age-appropriate sexual health and wellness programs.

GRDHD nurses provide community education and presentations when requested, and the health department includes STI prevention as part of its social media messaging, Austin said.

According to the CDC, the percentage of Kentucky's sexually active high school students decreased slightly in the past decade or so. In 2015, about 27 percent of the state's ninth-graders and 36 percent of 10th-graders reported having engaged in sex at some time.

"Many young people engage in sexual risk behaviors that can result in unintended health outcomes," the CDC report said. "Sexual risk behaviors place adolescents at risk for (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, other sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy."

Dr. Chris Pergrem, Owensboro Health emergency department physician, recommends three ways to prevent or limit exposure to STIs: abstinence, condom use and monogamous relationships.

Emergency department doctors treat a fair number of STI cases, he said. "(Patients) may not have a primary care physician to turn to."

About 50 percent of patients with chlamydia will have gonorrhea also, Pergrem said, so he treats them for both.

"I tell patients to have their partners tested and treated to avoid reinfection," he said.

Renee Beasley Jones, 270-228-2835, rbeasleyjones@messenger-inquirer.com

----------info box----------Green River District Health Department reported this information for 2017:

Chlamydia cases

Age Group Number of cases

0-9 0

10-14 11

15-19 361

20-24 376

25-29 144

30-34 48

35-39 33

40-44 12

45-54 7

55+ 6

Total 998

Gonorrhea

Age group

0-9 0

10-14 10

15-19 135

20-24 128

25-29 67

30-34 35

35-39 20

40-44 7

45-54 6

55+ 6

Total 414

----------end info box----------

___

(c)2018 the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.)

Visit the Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Ky.) at www.messenger-inquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.