Within the next 24 hours, over
one million people will contract s3xually transmitted infections (STIs), the
World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics have revealed.
The latest figures released by
WHO reveals that more than one million people get one form of s3xually
transmitted infections or the other every day.
The UN health agency also
revealed that every year, there are an estimated 357 million new infections
with one of four STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.
In 2016, diagnoses from around
the world revealed that 127 million contracted chlamydia, while 87 million
picked up gonorrhoea, syphilis had 6.3 million new patients and trichomoniasis
led the pack with 156 million people infected.
Based on these numbers, on
average, one in every 25 people globally has at least one of these STIs —
chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.
More than 500 million people are
estimated to have genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) with more
than 290 million women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Majority of STIs, also known as
sexually transmitted disease (STDs) have no symptoms or only mild symptoms that
may not be recognized as an STI.
STI CAN BE SPREAD VIA ORAL S3X
WHO adds that STDs or STIs are
spread predominantly via unprotected s3x, including vaginal, anal and oral s3x.
However, some STIs can also be
spread through non-s3xual means such as via blood or blood products.
Many STIs — including, syphilis,
hepatitis B, HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, and HPV—can also be
transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO: 200,000 NEONATES DIED FROM
STIS IN 2016
S3xually transmitted diseases
claim lots of lives every year, including neonatal death to the tune of 200,000
neonates in 2016. Neonates are children one month or younger.
It also leads to low-birth-weight
and prematurity, sepsis, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis, and congenital
deformities.
Approximately 1 million pregnant
women were estimated to have active syphilis in 2016, resulting in over 350 000
adverse birth outcomes of which 200,000 occurred as stillbirth or neonatal
death.
CALM DOWN: STI CAN BE PREVENTED
AND SOME TREATED
Prevention is better and cheaper
than cure, the cliché goes. With STIs, prevention is not just better and
cheaper, it could save 200,000 neonates and millions of adults around the
world.
WHO says counselling and
behavioural interventions offer primary prevention against STIs (including
HIV), as well as against unintended pregnancies.
This includes “comprehensive
s3xuality education, STI and HIV pre- and post-test counselling”.
When used correctly and
consistently, WHO says “condoms offer one of the most effective methods of
protection against STIs, including HIV”.
Female condoms are also said to
be “effective and safe”.
Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis
and one parasitic STI (trichomoniasis) are generally curable with existing,
effective single-dose regimens of antibiotics.
For herpes and HIV, the most
effective medications available are antivirals that can modulate the course of
the disease, though they cannot cure the disease.
For hepatitis B, antiviral
medications can help to fight the virus and slow damage to the liver.
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