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DENVER – For the fourth consecutive year, the number of cases of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia has increased in Denver.
In 2018, an estimated 2,700 people were diagnosed with gonorrhea, according to Denver Public Health.
This does not seem to be a significant figure, but compared to 2014, it is a leap of 150%.
Syphilis cases have increased 75% over the same period, said Denver Public Health.
And cases of chlamydia, considered the most common STD, have increased by 24% to more than 7,300 cases in 2018.
Dr. Karen Wendel from Denver Public Health spoke about the numbers, the reason for the increase and what to do.
9NEWS: Why would that happen?
Wendel: We see this type of rate increase nationally. Some areas are more affected than others and the explanations for these increases are not entirely clear, but some of the resulting ideas include decreased use of condoms, decreased screening for because of changes in guidelines like Pap smear and changes. in recommendations on the need for prevention services.
I think some of the differences come with the curability of some of these STDs and for people to know that when you get HIV, you are contemplating a lifetime of treatment. Fortunately, these days, our therapies are pretty good and people can live their lives through these therapies. – 03.50.17 – However, they know that things like gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis can be treated and sometimes as easily as a dose of medication. So I think people care less about it, think it does not have that much impact for them. But what they need to know is that they can all be present without symptoms and cause harm to people who have it.
Is it easy to sift?
Some people may think they need a physical doctor or intensive treatment, but in the case of gonorrhea and chlamydia, it is as easy to give a urine sample.
With the evolution of Denver, has access to treatment changed?
We suspect there is one, and we are really trying to encourage more liberal tests and tests that do not require that, because it can be as simple as providing a urine sample.
We believe that there are some access issues, but the expansion of Medicaid has provided many patients who would not have the opportunity to choose good options to pay for this type of care . But there are places in the metro that increase their capacity to cope with this epidemic to reach those who need it.
Is this an alarming trend?
These trends in STDs are very alarming because we have not yet begun to understand the implications for chlamydia and gonorrhea of long-term outcomes for our patients. Signifying ectopic pregnancies or infertility in young women. I think we are already seeing Colorado cases of conbad syphilis on the rise. Meaning of asymptomatic syphilis in the woman who wears it but has been transmitted to the baby and can lead to death at birth or significant malformations in their children.
Is there a part of the population that is more affected?
We find that for some of our STDs, the rates of increase in the number of people of color have increased. And we do not know if this is due to the limitations of access to care, screening or if we need to better inform the groups about the risks and to make sure that they know better how to protect themselves.
Cheap, inexpensive confidential testing and treatment is available at the Denver Public Health STD Clinic.
Learn more here: https://on9news.tv/2vwwhVK.
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