Sex-related infections on the rise
If you are engaged in risky sexual behavior, you might want to read this. Consider your lifestyle — past and present. Ditto for your partners. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported an upswing in sexually transmitted diseases — at a time when federal funding for prevention and control measures has dropped. In 2017, the
CDC reported almost 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis
— an increase of 200,000 cases over the previous year, which was a record high.
David Harvey, executive director of the National
Coalition of STD Directors, says the problem is a 40 percent drop in federal funding to prevent and control sexually transmitted diseases over the past 15 years. He said the funding decrease has severely limited state and local programs — and called on Congress to appropriate $70 million immediately to address the crisis during a recent STD meeting in Washington.
Chlamydia, a bacterial infection, remains the most common sexually transmitted disease, but gonorrhea and syphilis cases have spiked. Reported chlamydia cases number 1.7 million. But gonorrhea cases increased by 67 percent between 2013 and 2017, and syphilis climbed even faster — 76 percent over those four years. Whew! That’s a lot of sexually transmitted infections. When I see alarming national numbers, it always peaks my interest and I wonder how local reports compare. The Arkansas Department of Health’s Sexually Transmitted Infections Report collects such data from the state’s 75 counties. The most recent report available is for 2016.
Here in Arkansas, as of the end of 2016, there have been 16,737 cases of chlamydia reported. The number increased by 594 from 2015. The demographics for those infected include: 4,521 males and 12,216 females. By race and ethnicity, the breakdown includes: 7,154, white; 8,315; black; 45, Native American; 206, Asian/Pacific Islander; 828, Hispanic; 103, other; and 86, unknown. People age 19-24 were the most commonly infected with 8,110 cases, followed by age 25-34 with 3,875 and age 15-18 with 3,509. Cases among ages 35-44 were 825 — and younger and older age groups completed the remaining statistical data.
Union County falls in the 17-county southwest public health region, where 2,163 of the state’s overall cases are found. In Union County, there have been 271 cases of chlamydia reported — with 32 of them being new cases.
As of the end of 2016, there have been 5,732 cases of gonorrhea reported. The number increased by 963 from 2015. The demographics for those infected include: 2,769 males and 2,963 females. By race and ethnicity, the breakdown includes: 2,033, white; 3,409; black; 7, Native American; 39, Asian/Pacific Islander; 126, Hispanic; 19, other; and 44, unknown. People age 19-24 were the most commonly infected with 2,320 cases, followed by age 25-34 with 1,738 and age 15-18 with 865. Cases among ages 35-44 were 523 — and younger and older age groups completed the remaining statistical data.
The southwest region claimed 780 of the state’s cases with 88 of those being in Union County. The county’s cases decreased by 49 from 2015.
Syphilis numbers are much smaller in comparison to other STIs in the state. There are 150 cases of syphilis in Arkansas, as of the end of 2016, but 17 of them are new. The demographics for those infected include: 113 males and 37 females. By race and ethnicity, the breakdown includes: 70, white; 70; black; one, Native American; one, Asian/Pacific Islander; 6, Hispanic; and two, unknown. People age 19-24 were the most commonly infected with 61 cases, followed by age 15-18 with 32 and 25-34 with 30. Cases among ages 35-44 were 18 — and younger and older age groups completed the remaining statistical data.
The southwest region reported 21 of the 150 cases, but none of those are in Union County.
Health officials say STDs spread quickly due to a lack of symptoms and people often don’t know they have an infection. Sexual contact is made with others and disease spreads. If you are at risk, getting tested is recommended.