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Unveiling the Hidden Epidemic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Author James Dennis Fortenberry

Abstract

In 2000, a total of 702 093 genital infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis and 358 995 due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.1 These reported cases represent an extraordinary number of curable infections. One explanation for the persistence of high levels of disease may lie in a gross underestimation of the burden of disease in the population. Both C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae have poorly understood capacities for production of asymptomatic infections. A pool of untreated persons sustains high levels of disease, even for individuals not otherwise characterized by patterns of high-risk sexual behaviors.

Keywords

sexually transmitted diseases chlamydia trachomatis neisseria gonorrhoeae infectious diseases public health asymptomatic infections disease burden epidemiology sti surveillance cdc reports sexual health disease transmission undiagnosed infections sti prevention curable infections health disparities population health reproductive health sti screening epidemiological trends hidden epidemic untreated stis high-risk populations sexual behavior health policy
Details
Volume 287
Issue 6
Pages 768-769
DOI 10.1001/jama.287.6.768
ISSN 1538-3598
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