The latest data on the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea
and syphilis reveal a growing public health problem, with its severest
effects on women, young people and members of minorities.
All three diseases are preventable, treatable with
antibiotics, and, at least in their early stages, completely curable. Yet
they persist, partly because people can spread them without knowing they are
infected.
All three diseases are transmitted through vaginal,
oral and anal sex. Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea in women can lead to
painful and long-lasting pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and
potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy; both can be transmitted to babies at
birth. Syphilis has various severe symptoms depending on the stage of the
disease, can be passed by pregnant women to their babies, and can persist
for a lifetime in both men and women.
''Condoms are a very good way to reduce the risk of
getting infections,'' said Dr. Stuart Berman, an epidemiologist with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issued the report. ''If
you use them all the time, and use them correctly, they work.''
Screening is also helpful. ''Pregnant women and men
who have sex with men should be screened yearly for chlamydia, gonorrhea and
syphilis,'' Dr. Berman said. ''And all sexually active women younger than 26
should be screened annually for Chlamydia.'' (Women's rates of chlamydia are
almost three times those of men.)
These numbers, which were published in December,
include only cases reported by local health departments, clinics and
hospitals. The C.D.C. estimates that they account for less than half of the
actual number of infections. NICHOLAS BAKALAR
