The US still has a big ITS problem

Illustration of the article entitled The US still has a big STI problem

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Sexually transmitted infections it remains a major headache for Americans and their portfolios, according to a new report released Tuesday for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was estimated that approximately one in five Americans in the United States would carry an STI in 2018, while an estimated 26 million new cases were made in the same year. These new cases also amassed billions in direct medical costs.

In recent years, there has been a steady increase in STIs reported in the US In 2018, there they were nearly 2.5 million confirmed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, the highest combined number of the three ever recorded in a year. However, most STIs are not usually reported, often because they do not cause any visible symptoms at first or because people are reluctant or unable to test.

This new CDC report has been tested to account for these hidden cases, while also calculating the financial toll caused by STIs in 2018. It seemed to eight common STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus type 2 (the most common cause of genethatin herpes), human papillomavirus (HPV) and trichomoniasis.

An estimated 68 million Americans (approximately one in five) had a chronic or acute STI in 2018, with 98% of these infections caused by chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, or HPV. Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, and HPV also accounted for approximately 93% of the estimated 26 million cases of STIs that occurred in 2018.Taken together, these new infections led to direct medical costs in life of about $ 16 billion, although it is probably an understatement. price tag.

“The total cost of STIs far exceeds the estimated medical cost burden in this study, which did not include the costs associated with lost productivity, other non-medical costs, and the prevention of STIs,” the authors wrote. ‘report.

STIs caused by bacteria or parasites remain easily treatable once diagnosed, although in cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea they are now becoming a real concern. The h viralhepatitis B and HPV can be prevented almost completely with an effective childhood vaccine. And the risk of catching STIs can be significantly reduced by using condoms and otherssexual practices, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. In other words, there are tools to reduce the burden of STIs.

There are many reasons why STIs have been on the rise in recent years and it probably has nothing to do with it younger people who have more sex (the opposed May be true, in reality). The renewal of sexual editing programs only for abstinence during the Trump administration and reduced access to good sexual assistance and testing are probably more specific factors.

As this report only covers up to 2018, it is open that the pandemic has reduced the incidence of STIs since 2020, as is the case with other infections such as the flu. It is possible that ITS rates could jump once people can socialize freely again. But in any case, having safe sex and doing routine tests if you act sexually, especially with multiple partners, will still be the best way to avoid STIs in the foreseeable future.

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