Gonorrhoea cases on the rise; 10-year-olds inflicted, too
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Cases of Gonorrhoea - a sexually transmitted disease ( STD) – in the state increased from 535 cases in 2013 to 683 cases last year, and some victims were 10 years old.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said for those aged 10 to 17, there were 53 cases in 2013 and 49 cases in 2014.
For those aged 18 to 29, there were 344 cases in 2013 and 514 cases last year.
“Gonorrhoea cases in Samarahan and Asajaya Districts are also worrying.
“There were 68 cases (including 11 cases among those aged 10 to 17 and 49 cases among those aged 18 to 29) in 2013, and it rose to 96 cases (including 12 cases among those aged 10 to 17 and 64 cases among those aged 18 to 29) last year,” she told reporters yesterday after officiating at the ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health Problems Among Teenagers’ here.
State Health deputy director Dr Jamilah Hashim and State Education director Serina Sauni were present.
Fatimah said these figures ref lected sexual activities were taking place from a very young age.
She said males with the disease were easily detected compared to females as they showed obvious symptoms such as pus coming out from their private parts and having difficulty to urinate.
“About 60 per cent of females with the disease went undetected.”
Fatimah said there was also an increase in HIV cases among those aged 18 to 29.
“The state recorded 190 cases of HIV in 2013, and it went up to 235 cases last year.
“In 2013 and 2014, there were two cases each involving those aged below 18.
“For those aged 18 to 29, there were 71 cases in 2013 and 80 cases in 2014.”
Fatimah said no study had been conducted yet to determine why children as young as 10 years old were indulging in sexual activities, but the suspected culprit is the easily accessible social media spewing obscene acts and pornography.
The seminar was organised by the State Health Department in collaboration with Samarahan Division Health Office, State Education Department and Ministry of of Welfare, Women and Family Development.