Sexually transmitted infections it continues to be a major headache for Americans and their wallets, according to a new report freed Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in five Americans in the US was thought to have a STI in 2018, while an estimated 26 million new cases were estimated in the same year. These new cases have also accumulated billions in direct medical costs.
In recent years, there has been a steady annual increase in STIs reported in the US In 2018, there They were almost 2.5 million confirmed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – the highest combined number of all three ever reported in a year. Most STIs tend to go undeclared, often because they do not cause any visible symptoms at first or because people are reluctant or unable to take tests.
This new CDC report tried to explain these hidden cases, while calculating financial taxes 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 ofThis oneof herpes), human papillomavirus (HPV) and trichomoniasis.
About 68 million Americans – about one in five – are estimated to have 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 about 93% of the 26 million STI cases estimated to have occurred in 2018. ATogether, these new infections have led to direct medical costs in life of about $ 16 billion, although it is likely an underestimation of their true price tag.
“The total cost of STIs far outweighs the estimated medical costs in this study, which did not include the costs associated with lost productivity, other non-medical costs and STI prevention,” the report wrote.
G / O Media may receive a commission
Rainbow umbrella testing
You say that has no greed lorem ipsum dolor sit I, with great pain, pain during reprehe nderittur adipissmod.
STIs caused by bacteria or parasites remain easily treatable once diagnosed, although cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea they are now becoming a real concern. Viral hHepatitis B and HPV can be prevented almost entirely with an effective vaccine for children. And the risk of catching STIs can be significantly reduced by using a condom and otherssexual practices, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. In other words, the tools for reducing the STI burden are there.
There are many reasons why STIs have been rising in recent years and it probably has nothing to do with them young people who have more sex ( opposite May be true, actually). renewals of sexual ed programs only for abstinence during the Trump administration and reduced access to good sexual assistance and tests are probably more concrete factors.
As this report only covers up to 2018, it is an open question whether the pandemic has reduced the incidence of STIs since 2020, as it has done for other infections, such as the flu. It is possible that. STI rates could jump once people can socialize again freely. But in any case, safe sex and routine testing if you are sexually active, especially with multiple partners, will remain the best way to avoid STIs in the near future.