STD Cases, Awareness in Gwinnett County

It's STD Awareness Month in Gwinnett County and health department officials are highlighting recent statistics while encouraging residents to be more informed about sexually transmitted diseases.

In 2009, the county had 2,197 cases of STDs that were reported to officials, according to most-recent data provided by the health department. That's down from 2,215 in the previous year. The STDs reported include chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

This year’s campaign within the area health departments is geared toward adolescents and young adults, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that one in every two sexually active young people will contract an STD by the age 25.

“The lack of correct information, misconceptions about transmission and social stigma associated with STDs keeps many young people from getting tested,” Lisa Jackson, district communicable disease supervisor for the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments, said in a press release.  “Our top priority is to connect with young people wherever they are and provide them with the facts.”

In Gwinnett County, people ages 20-24 represented the highest number of reported infections, with 665 cases in 2009. Over the past five years, those ages 20-24 have also represented the highest number of infections reported, with a total of 3,304 since 2005.

Those younger than 20 also had high numbers, with youth ages 10-19 responsible for 730 infections reported in 2009. In addition, those 15-17 had the greatest increase in 2009, from 266 in 2008 to 301 the following year. Those ages 30-34 were a close second, with 180 cases in 2008 and 214 cases in 2009.

The number of total cases in Gwinnett County was more than Rockdale and Newton counties combined, which had 419 and 591 cases respectively. Still, Gwinnett County fell behind nearby counties -- Dekalb, Fulton, Rockdale and Newton -- in the rate of infection, which was 271.8 cases per 100,000 people. Among these five counties in 2009, Fulton County had the highest rate of infections reported, with 940.6 cases per 100,000 people, and DeKalb County followed with 870.0 cases per 100,000 people.

Health officials advise all people to obtain STD screening, which can help detect disease early. When combined with treatment, screening is "one of the most effective tools available to protect one's health and prevent the spread of STDs to others," officials noted in a press release.

“STDs affect people of all races, ages, and sexual orientations,” said Suleima Salgado, a spokeswoman for the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments. “Our health departments are dedicated to providing confidential counseling, testing, treatment and education."

According to the CDC, in 2009, there were more than 1.5 million total cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea reported to CDC. They are the two most-commonly reported infectious diseases in the United States. Half of new STD infections occur among young people ages 15 to 24, though this age group makes up 25 percent of the sexually active population.

If STDs are left untreated, they can cause long-term health complications, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, neurological damage, and the spread of infection to others.

To find a testing location nearest you, visit:  http://www.hivtest.org/STDTesting.aspx.  For more information about STD Awareness Month, please visit the CDC STD Awareness page at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/STDAwareness/.

Joy Woodson is the local editor of Snellville Patch.