Sexually transmitted diseases continue to rise
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《英国医生杂志》
The overall numbers of sexually transmitted infections in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland continued to increase during 2003, the Health Protection Agency announced at the launch of its first annual report.
But although there are some signs that the steady rises since 1995 may be starting to level out slightly, the figures hide huge variations in the diagnoses of individual infections.
And they show that rates of infection are consistently higher in homosexual men than in heterosexual men for almost every infection reported by genitourinary medicine clinics.
Light micrograph of cervical smear showing chlamydia infection
Credit: SPL
Overall, the numbers of reported sexually transmitted infections rose by 4% between 2002 and 2003—from 678 709 to 708 083—with a cumulative increase of 57% since 1995.
Chlamydia infections rose overall by 9% between 2002 and 2003 (from 82 558 to 89 818). But between 1995 and 2003 chlamydia infections increased by 196% in men and by 188% in women; among homosexual men, however, they increased by 666%.
The report notes that within the south west of England there was a 40-fold difference between doctors in the rate of screening for the infection, largely attributable to lack of knowledge about highest risk groups and the screening process itself.
Cases of syphilis also shot up by 28% between 2002 and 2003, with an overall increase of 1058% since 1995. Syphilis infections in homosexual men, however, rose much more—by 2075% since 1995.
The largest rise in syphilis between 2002 and 2003 occurred in men aged over 65, although the largest cumulative rise since 1995 (1723%) occurred in the 33-44 age group.
Overall, cases of gonorrhoea fell by 3% between 2002 and 2003, despite rising by 11% in homosexual men. Cases overall increased 139% since 1995. The number of cases of first attack of herpes also fell by 2% in 2003, with a 15% increase overall since 1995.
Commenting on the figures, Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, said: "The continued rise in sexually transmitted infections is disastrous both for individuals and the NHS, which bears the spiralling costs of treatment."
The government urgently needed to implement more and earlier sex education in schools and provide long term investment in sexual health services, if it was "serious about stemming the rising tide of sexually transmitted infections," she said.
The figures have also translated into sharp increases in workload for genitourinary medicine clinics, with a 63% rise reported by clinics between 2002 and 2003, with a 225% increase since 1995. Clinics dealt with 1.5 million episodes in 2002.
The BMA's chairman, Jim Johnson, said that genitourinary medicine clinics were struggling to cope, leaving many patients waiting weeks for an appointment. "It is a scandal that the service we offer patients is worse than it was 90 years ago," he added.(Caroline White)
But although there are some signs that the steady rises since 1995 may be starting to level out slightly, the figures hide huge variations in the diagnoses of individual infections.
And they show that rates of infection are consistently higher in homosexual men than in heterosexual men for almost every infection reported by genitourinary medicine clinics.
Light micrograph of cervical smear showing chlamydia infection
Credit: SPL
Overall, the numbers of reported sexually transmitted infections rose by 4% between 2002 and 2003—from 678 709 to 708 083—with a cumulative increase of 57% since 1995.
Chlamydia infections rose overall by 9% between 2002 and 2003 (from 82 558 to 89 818). But between 1995 and 2003 chlamydia infections increased by 196% in men and by 188% in women; among homosexual men, however, they increased by 666%.
The report notes that within the south west of England there was a 40-fold difference between doctors in the rate of screening for the infection, largely attributable to lack of knowledge about highest risk groups and the screening process itself.
Cases of syphilis also shot up by 28% between 2002 and 2003, with an overall increase of 1058% since 1995. Syphilis infections in homosexual men, however, rose much more—by 2075% since 1995.
The largest rise in syphilis between 2002 and 2003 occurred in men aged over 65, although the largest cumulative rise since 1995 (1723%) occurred in the 33-44 age group.
Overall, cases of gonorrhoea fell by 3% between 2002 and 2003, despite rising by 11% in homosexual men. Cases overall increased 139% since 1995. The number of cases of first attack of herpes also fell by 2% in 2003, with a 15% increase overall since 1995.
Commenting on the figures, Anne Weyman, chief executive of the Family Planning Association, said: "The continued rise in sexually transmitted infections is disastrous both for individuals and the NHS, which bears the spiralling costs of treatment."
The government urgently needed to implement more and earlier sex education in schools and provide long term investment in sexual health services, if it was "serious about stemming the rising tide of sexually transmitted infections," she said.
The figures have also translated into sharp increases in workload for genitourinary medicine clinics, with a 63% rise reported by clinics between 2002 and 2003, with a 225% increase since 1995. Clinics dealt with 1.5 million episodes in 2002.
The BMA's chairman, Jim Johnson, said that genitourinary medicine clinics were struggling to cope, leaving many patients waiting weeks for an appointment. "It is a scandal that the service we offer patients is worse than it was 90 years ago," he added.(Caroline White)