Every day, more than 1 million people get a sexually transmitted infection

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Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have profound effects on sexual and reproductive health, and are among the five causes of greatest medical consultation in adults. According to WHO data, every day more than 1 million people contract an STI. It is estimated that some 357 million people each year contract one of the following four STIs: chlamydia (131 million), gonorrhea (78 million), syphilis (5.6 million) or trichomoniasis (143 million). The number of people with genital HSV infection (herpes) exceeds 500 million. There are more than 290 million women in the world infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common STIs.

Regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, STIs affect everyone from the beginning of sexual life. There are about 30 viruses, bacteria and parasites that are transmitted by sexual contact and of this total are 8 the main responsible for the increase in the incidence of STIs: syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and Hepatitis C (currently curable with specific medication) and the other four -hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV or herpes), HIV and human papilloma virus (HPV) - are viral infections without cure today but there are treatments that allow a good quality of life to the infected person.

In most cases, STIs are transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Also, blood transfusions can be routes of transmission and, in particular, chlamydia, gonorrhea, primary hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery, so it is essential to perform controls during that period.

A person can have an STI without showing symptoms. Among these, the most common include excessive vaginal discharge, urethral discharge or burning in men, genital ulcers and abdominal pain. Beyond the immediate effect of the infection itself, STIs can have serious consequences: some, such as herpes and syphilis, can multiply the risk of contracting HIV by 3 or more times. And in the case of vertical transmission (from mother to baby) can lead to prenatal and neonatal death, premature birth, septicemia, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis and congenital deformities.

According to the Ministry of Health of the Nation, in Argentina has tripled the cases of syphilis both in the general po[CENSORED]tion (from a rate of 11.74 x 100,000 inhabitants in 2014 to 35.17 in 2017) and in pregnant women (from one positive rate of 3.27% in 2014 to 4.63% in 2017). These figures show the urgency of redoubling efforts and resources to stop the spread. In this sense, primary prevention with comprehensive sexual education, promotion and information to the community about safe sexual practices and promotion of the use of condoms (male and female) that are one of the most effective methods of protection against STIs, is crucial. The hiv.

Currently, effective treatment against some STIs is available but resistance to antibiotics (particularly gonorrhea) and antimicrobials limits therapeutic options, so prevention is essential, as well as early diagnosis and treatment. The only rapid tests currently available in relation to an STI are those of syphilis and HIV. Meanwhile, to prevent two of the STIs (hepatitis B and human papillomavirus) there are safe and effective vaccines, both included in the official vaccination calendar of Argentina.

The epidemiological reality shows that the detection and treatment of STIs remain inadequate due to a multiplicity of factors such as scarcity of resources, stigmatization, insufficient quality of services in which the issue is addressed, lack of comprehensive sexual education in areas such as secondary schools, and the limited or non-existent follow-up of sexual partners and key po[CENSORED]tions such as sex workers, adolescents and men who have sex with men. A challenge that must be addressed immediately articulating the public and private to offer proposals to the community to stop the growth of STIs.

Edited April 20, 2019 by - Dark
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