Image: Virus - Bacteria ITS / Courtesy Rexpuestas.
STIs a public health problem
Sexually Transmitted Infections continue to spread and represent a risk in the population according to WHO.
About 1 million people between the ages of 15 and 49 contract an STI every day. Annually more than 376 million cases are due to chlamydiosis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis.
Sexually Transmitted Infections, in many cases are curable, but if they are not treated for a time, they can become serious, chronic diseases or bring irreversible health consequences and even death.
Among them, the WHO referred to “neurological and brain vascular problems, infertility, ectopic pregnancies and risk of HIV infection. It also associated its consequences with high levels of domestic violence and stigmatization”.
According to Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of universal health coverage and life course at the WHO, there is “a worrying lack of progress in the fight to stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in the world.”
“This is an alarm bell for us to wake up and work together so that everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.”
The figures are worrisome, since those affected by chlamydiosis are estimated at 127 million per year; gonorrhea, 87 million; syphilis, 6.3 million and trichomoniasis, 156 million.
In addition, syphilis caused 200,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths in 2016, making it one of the leading causes of newborn deaths around the world.
Prevention, detection and treatment
STIs represent a persistent threat. According to the WHO, “one in 25 people has at least one of these Sexually Transmitted Infections, and may be infected by several of them at the same time.”
They are transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse, or by contact with blood, hermoderivatives or by injecting drugs. In addition, they can be transferred during pregnancy or childbirth.
For this reason, it is necessary to take the pertinent measures, the WHO recommends:
1- Use condoms.
2- Periodically carry out detection tests, among couples who have an active sexual life.
3- Carry out treatments indicated by the doctor in case of being diagnosed with an STI.
4-Systematically screen pregnant women for syphilis and HIV infection.
Likewise, the WHO proposes to carry out interventions and services, reinforce surveillance and access to supplies, studies, care improvement, diagnostic tests and vaccination.
Its purpose is to help countries take appropriate measures to minimize this persistent public health problem.
Article by:
Jackeline Gonzalez L.
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