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Guest column

Health department has STD screenings

By MICHAEL WALLACE
Published May 9, 2006

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health challenge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 19-million new infections occur each year in the United States. In Citrus County, almost two-thirds of all reportable STDs occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24. Everyone needs to know about these diseases, because they can infect anyone who is sexually active, regardless of age. Many infections are not diagnosed because not everyone has symptoms.

The most common STDs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papilloma virus (warts, HPV), genital herpes, viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A, B, and C), trichomoniasis and HIV/AIDS. Most sexually transmitted diseases are required by law to be reported to the health department. (Some very common diseases like herpes and HPV are not reportable.)

Chlamydia is the most common reportable STD. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is easily cured with antibiotics. Some symptoms of chlamydia include discharge, burning with urination, pelvic pain and swollen lymph nodes; not everyone has symptoms. Chlamydia can be spread by having any kind of sex with an infected person.

Untreated, chlamydia can cause severe health problems for women, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Complications from chlamydia among men are relatively uncommon, but may include epididymitis and urethritis, which can cause pain, fever and, in rare cases, sterility.

The Citrus County Health Department has stepped up screening efforts to help prevent the serious health consequences of this infection. Testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea in women is performed with routine Pap tests. Each Citrus County Health Department site is also now offering urine tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

To prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, a sexually active person should take the following steps:

--Get tested and have your partner tested;

--Stay with one partner after being tested;

--Practice safer sex methods by using condoms and other barriers.

The Citrus County Health Department offers free screening for sexually transmitted diseases to people of all ages. To schedule an appointment or to learn more information, call the health department at 527-0247.

--Michael Wallace is nurse program specialist at the Citrus County Health Department. For information, call 527-0068.

[Last modified May 9, 2006, 00:41:15]