The number of STDs has reached a record high in the United States. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are at the top of the new infections.
New record for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. According to CDC annual report (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported last year. This is “the highest figure ever reached”, we can read, and the third consecutive year of increase in STIs.
Most of the new cases – 1.6 million in 2016 – are cases of chlamydia, a bacterial infection that affects both men and women. Gonorrhea has also increased in men and women over the past year, but the rise is more pronounced among men (22%), according to the report. Thus, on the whole of the territory, 470,000 cases of gonorrhea have been recorded, with a large part of the new cases recorded among men who have sex with other men.
Treatment resistance
These developments are “particularly alarming” given the increasingly pronounced resistance of gonorrhea to the latest recommended treatment, according to the CDC report.
As for the cases of syphilis, there are 28,000, an increase of nearly 18% between 2015 and 2016. Most cases of syphilis are observed in men, mainly homosexual and bisexual. But the rate also increased by 36% among women.
Infection of newborns
The CDC also identifies more than 600 cases of congenital syphilis among newborns, a 28% increase in just one year. These cases have resulted in “more than 40 deaths and serious health complications in newborns,” the report explains.
“Any baby born with syphilis is a tragic failure of the health care system,” said Gail Bolan, director of the STD Prevention Division at CDC. All it takes is a simple STD test and antibiotic treatment to avoid this huge problem and help ensure a healthy start in life for the next generation of Americans. ”
Experts believe that despite growing concerns over antibiotic resistance, these three STDs can all be cured with antibiotic treatment. Left untreated, they can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and an increased risk of HIV transmission.
.
