Syphilis and chlamydia rates are on the rise, leaving some health officials concerned.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2007 reports, which were updated at the beginning of January, chlamydia infections rose to 1.1 million in the United States, and rates of syphilis rose slightly for the seventh consecutive year.
The report, "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance" stated infections occurred at a rate of 370 cases per 100,000 people in 2007.
"The rates of chlamydia and syphilis are definitely rising," said Ricky Vaughn HIV/AIDS Surveillance Specialist for the Lubbock Health Department. "Lubbock has had a large increase since 2007."
Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium that can cause discharge in the penis or vagina, and is transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex, according to the CDC's Web site.
The rise may not accurately indicate an increase, Vaughn said. The increased rates may stem from better screening and more sensitive tests used to detect the infections.
According to Lubbock Health Department's 2008 data, 515 people between the ages of 15 and 19 and 560 people between the ages of 20 and 24 were diagnosed with chlamydia.
Symptoms of chlamydia are often absent and can infect fertility rate in women, according to the CDC Web site.
"Women are at higher risk than men to contract the infection," Vaughn said.
Women infected with chlamydia are at risk of infection in the fallopian tubes, causing chronic pains, infertility or life-threatening pregnancy, according to CDC's Web site. The effects of the bacterium are more severe in women than men. However, if untreated, men may experience pain, fever and sterility in the epididymus - the tube that carries sperm from the testes.
Many people with the infection go unidentified, Vaughn said. Young men tend to avoid going to the doctor, remain infected and continue to spread infection to other partners.
"Many students are not being cautious of using condoms each time they perform sexual intercourse," Vaughn said.
"There is a 2 to 3 percent rate of Texas Tech students infected with chlamydia, which is average for college students," said Dr. Kelly Bennett, medical director for Tech's Student Health Services.
Students also screen for testing at the Lubbock Health Department and Planned Parenthood because it's "confidential and cheap," Bennett said. So, it may be difficult to track an increase of the transmitted diseases in college students.
For those who believe they have the chlamydia infection, seek professional care, she said. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.
Cases of syphilis, which can also be treated, remains rare but have increased each year.
Syphilis, which is more life threatening than chlamydia, has had an increase of 15 percent in the past three years with 3.8 cases per 100,000 people, according to the 2007 CDC report.
A total of 11,466 cases were reported in 2007. According to the report, men who engaged in homosexual sex made up 65 percent of the 11,466 cases.
Syphilis is harder to distinguish from other sexually transmitted diseases because symptoms are very similar for many STDs, according to the CDC. It is transmitted through direct contact with a syphilis sore, and sores occur mainly on the external penis, vaginal and anal area. It can also be transmitted to children during pregnancy.
"So far we have had one case of syphilis this year at Tech," said Bennett. "I remember five years ago we reported zero cases. So, syphilis is definitely rising."
Unlike chlamydia, syphilis can kill untreated patients, Vaughn said. Treatment includes antibiotics and a shot.
Health officials suggest taking precautions to avoid contracting chlamydia, syphilis or other sexually transmitted diseases.
"It is very important to use condoms," Bennett said. "If you see any lesions on the skin, don't have sex."
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