U.S. chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis rates rise

U.S. chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis rates rise
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The rates of three leading sexuallytransmitted diseases -- chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis --rose again in the United States last year, worried publichealth officials said on Tuesday.
It was the second year in a row of increases for all threeof these sexually transmitted bacterial infections, the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention said.
The rate of chlamydia, the most common infectious diseasereported to the CDC, increased 5.6 percent in 2006 from 2005.
More than 1.03 million chlamydia cases were reported in2006 -- the highest number since the CDC began tracking it in1984 and the highest number of annual U.S. cases ever for anysexually transmitted disease.
The CDC said the national rate of reported chlamydia casesin 2006 was 347.8 cases per 100,000 Americans. The rate hasbeen rising since the 1980s but likely reflects less than halfthe actual occurrence, the CDC said.
The rate of gonorrhea rose 5.5 percent in 2006 -- itssecond straight yearly gain -- with 358,366 cases reported. In2006, the gonorrhea rate was 120.9 cases per 100,000 people.
Rates for blacks were eight times higher than for whitesfor chlamydia and 18 times higher for gonorrhea.
The rate of syphilis, with gay and bisexual men accountingfor 64 percent of cases, rose 13.8 percent in 2006 over 2005,with 9,756 cases. Syphilis rates have been rising over the pastsix years, gaining 57 percent since 2001, the CDC said.
The 2006 syphilis rate was 3.3 cases per 100,000 people.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, represent asignificant public health threat, the CDC said, with about 19million new infections occurring each year in a country of 300million people -- almost half among people ages 15 to 24.
"This is a hidden epidemic," said Dr. Stuart Berman, whohelps tracks STDs for the CDC.
"Most people are not aware of how many STDs are out there,the risks that they run and the need for getting regulartesting for some of these and treatment -- and having theirpartners treated. We'd like to see these rates going down."
UNREPORTED DISEASES
The CDC said many STD cases go undiagnosed, and some commonviral infections such as human papillomavirus -- which causescervical cancer -- and genital herpes are not reported to theagency at all.
Dr. John Douglas, who heads CDC STD prevention efforts,said more risky sexual behavior by gay and bisexual men ishelping fuel syphilis rates. He said expanded screening effortsmay help explain the rise in chlamydia reports.
Having multiple sex partners and not using condoms canincrease the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases,including syphilis and AIDS.
Douglas said STD prevention programs in local and statehealth departments have been stretched thin financially. And hesaid the lack of health insurance among many Americans might becontributing as well.
Chlamydia is easily cured with antibiotics, but often goesundiagnosed. When untreated, it can cause severe healthconsequences particularly for women such as pelvic inflammatorydisease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility.The CDC estimated there are about 2.8 million new cases ofchlamydia among Americans each year, far higher than thereported number of cases. The rate for women is three timeshigher than for men.STDs raise one's vulnerability to the AIDS virus and makesHIV-infected people more infectious. Left untreated, gonorrheacan cause a variety of health problems including infertility.Syphilis, easily curable in its early stages, can causeserious complications if untreated, including brain,cardiovascular and organ damage, and even death.(Editing by Maggie Fox and Cynthia Osterman)