They warn of rise in syphilis and gonorrhea among young Chileans

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise worldwide, according to the latest data, with Gonorrhea, syphilis and congenital syphilis surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2021.

this shame of agesthis Reduced funding for health programs and limited sex education is the variable that contributes to the increase.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), At least 2.5 million reported cases of four major sexually transmitted infections (the above three and chlamydia), this number has increased by 4% since 2020.

According to the CDC, a 2018 report found that As many as one in five people (approximately 68 million people) have a sexually transmitted infection (Note that the term STI refers to a pathogen that causes an infection through sexual contact. In contrast, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) refers to a recognizable disease state that develops from an infection), where The actual figure is likely to be higher.

“STIs are not showing signs of slowing down,” said Leandro Mena, director of the CDC’s Division of Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention.

According to a note from Qué Pasa, these figures Ministry of Health shows a continued increase in newly diagnosed STI cases over the past five years.

Taking into account notifications of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, the notification rate of sexually transmitted infections at the national level for the period 2017-2021 is equivalent to 70,660 reported cases. general, Men receive more notifications than women.

According to international and domestic statistics Sexually transmitted infections have grown exponentially in recent years, ‘Beginning before the pandemic’ explains Dr Nicole Orsett, Gynecologist at Clínica Las Condes.

Carmen Gloria Eli Gangas, Doctor of Science (referring to Applied Cell and Molecular Biology) from the University of La Frontera (UFRO) explains Sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases on the rise in Chile over past 5 years

Experts believe this is due to two main factors.

• The proportion of immigrants arriving in the country.
• People lack sex education. Therefore, “young people are currently the age group most at risk”, adds Ili Gangas.

Anyone can get an STI, but cases are not evenly distributed. half are teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 24, According to data from North American countries.

Both experts reiterated the rankings, and ” Only 25% of the sexually active population“CLC experts pointed out.

Also, this age range is “people have more promiscuity or have more sexual partners”, which is alsoThey are affected by the lack of sex education in schools, UFRO researchers emphasized.

Likewise, Orsett added, people with lower socioeconomic levels and less access to barrier methods, as well as sexual minorities, are other populations affected by the rise in STIs.

UFRO experts say this is due to people’s risky behavior and lack of knowledge.

Among risky behaviors we can find:

• have multiple sexual partners
• Do not use condoms (condoms).
• In the case of human papillomavirus (HPV), there is a vaccine that many people do not have access to or have not yet received.
• Lack of education on sexuality.
• Not practicing self-care habits Annual screening.

“Unfortunately, sex remains a taboo subject in Chile. Lack of knowledge leads to increased transmission and untimely diagnosis and treatment,” Ausset emphasized.

According to the Department of Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, The most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Chile is:

• Genital warts (low-risk HPV infection).
• syphilis.
• gonorrhea.
• herpes
• Chlamydia infection.

but in recent years The number of cases increased, with syphilis accounting for 46.7%; followed by HIV at 30%, and gonorrhea at about 15%.

Regarding the distribution of notifications issued during the period 2017-2021, Syphilis predominates in about 50% of cases, followed by HIV in 30% and gonorrhea in about 15%. Ranked fourth and fifth are hepatitis B and hepatitis C, respectively.

The most effective measures to prevent STIs are Use condoms correctly and “during all sexual relations, whether vaginal, anal or oral” Orsett explained.

Another very important measure is:

• Provide comprehensive sex education to the population.
• Vaccination schedule.

Claudia Cortés, an academic at the University of Chile’s Faculty of Medicine, explained in a statement that when it comes to HIV prevention, “early diagnosis is very important because today, If we start treatment when the infection is relatively new and the immune system has not yet been affected, a person will have exactly the same life expectancy as someone who is not infected with HIV“.

“If you have an active sexual life with multiple sexual partners, it’s a good idea to have an annual checkup,” advises Cortez.

Director of the HIV Center at the Clinical University Hospital of Chile, Alejandro Affani added, “For example, young people today use condoms to prevent pregnancy, not to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Despite this, For example, sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis are out of control, so action is also important.”

Sexually transmitted infections are now a public health problem That’s why people realize that precautions are so important.

Many infections are asymptomatic, making the transmission curve exponential and thus a health concern.

This is because of their numerous sequelae, including infertility, systemic complications, complications during pregnancy, increased likelihood of HIV transmission, and psychosocial effects, among others. “This has a very high cost to public health” CLC experts explain.

Also, Dr. From UFRO, Emphasis on sex education factorsbecause “if we don’t know what STDs are, what they look like, and how people get them,” people won’t know about them, so they won’t take care of themselves, and you’ll end up with more cases all over the system .

The latest update from the Institute of Public Health (ISP) shows 7% increase in HIV cases in the country in 2022 with 5,401 new diagnosesor 25 cases per 100,000 people.

Director of the HIV Center at the Clinical University Hospital of Chile: Alejandro Affanithe numbers represent good news and bad news. “The bad news is we still have a lot of HIV cases The good news is we’re getting more tests and diagnostics,” express.

Epidemiologist at the University of Chile, Claudia CortezAdded, “During the pandemic, following a drop in numbers due to fewer tests, In 2022, the restoration of testing will be relatively strong, and self-testing will also be established. This is a very good policy to facilitate access.and that affects, with more testing, more searching, maybe a better diagnosis.”

Biggest increase in infections, according to data provided by ISPs It has been observed in the northern parts of the country, where Arica and Parinakota have higher numbers, 49.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; Tarapaca’s infection rate fell to 45.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; Antofagasta’s infection rate was 38.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Among the factors explaining these figures, Dr Alejandro Affani explained, “Immigration is important, but I had the opportunity to go to Arica and see that In addition to the lack of sex education at the national level, there is a lot of sex trafficking and exchanges across bordersaffecting our lack of responsible sexuality, self-care.”

In this sense, Dr Affani warns The 25 to 34 age group had the highest incidence, accounting for 40% of all new cases’, adding, “At least surveys show that young people in Chile today tend to be sexually active under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs, so a lot of things come together, and also, they don’t use condoms male or female, nor That is, they are multifactorial.”

The disease that is stealing the show in the population, despite the continued increase in sexually transmitted infections among most infections Chile’s population, especially the young, This is syphilis.

According to the CDC, cases of syphilis in the United States have been increasing since 2000, increasing by 75% between 2017 and 2021 (the latest year for which case data is available).

In June, Pfizer announced a shortage of the penicillins Bicillin AL and Bicillin CR due to rising syphilis cases and “competing shortages,” Forbes reported.

Bicillin AL It is the only treatment approved for pregnant women with syphilis. According to the Virginia Department of Health, it can effectively prevent the transmission of the disease to the fetus.

In response to the shortage, the CDC recommends that doctors prioritize pregnant patients and infants who have been infected or have been exposed, and prescribe doxycycline to other patients.

However, Bloomberg Doctors were reportedly concerned that patients would not adhere to treatment because doxycycline had to be taken twice a day for at least two weeks, while pecillin was given as an injection, usually given only once.