The other, less lovable VD

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

By PJH Staff

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The loathed and sometimes loved holiday to celebrate cupid-consumerism, Valentine’s Day, is an ideal time to examine some of the not-so-lovable bi-products of post-coital bliss. Venereal diseases, especially in young people, appear to be increasingly on the rise.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases are surfacing every year in the United States. Nearly half of them are in young people ages 18 to 24.
In 2006, the CDC reported 34 percent (or 19,200) of new HIV infections were diagnosed in people age 13 to 29, the most new infections of any age group. Locally, however, the Wyo. Department of Health reported no cases of HIV in Teton County in 2007 and 2008.

But the trend in young people infected by other STDs is prevalent in Teton County, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

“In general I can tell you that young men and women between the ages of 15 and 24 are the most impacted by STDs in the state of Wyoming,” said Canyon Hardesty of the Wyoming Department of Health. “For 2007, Teton County reported 23 cases of Chlamydia, and in 2008, 40 cases were reported.” 

Gonorrhea, however, appears to be a luckily uncommon venereal disease in the valley. In Teton County, only three cases were reported in 2007 and two cases in 2008, explained Hardesty. Some valley doctors noted that HPV infection - which according to the CDC almost half of the population will have at some point, but may by asymptomatic, is perhaps the most rampant STD in Jackson.

“Venereal warts [caused by a strain of the HPV virus] are the most common thing I am seeing,” noted valley M.D., Bruce Hayse, who also explained that it is important to remember STD symptoms are not always present in infected individuals.  
Unfortunately, with warts, unless you have one visible on your body, there is no way to confirm the virus’ presence and there are no simple tests to pinpoint HPV. Hayse said, however, that eventually a normal immune system will fight off the virus.

Since other strains of the HPV virus may be linked to cervical cancer, the CDC encourages women to obtain the newly developed HPV vaccine, available at the Teton County Health Department. While private doctors also offer the vaccine, the Health Department offers the most economic vaccination option at $120 per dose (three doses total), for anyone over the age of 19; the vaccine is $10 per dose for patients under 19.

Free anonymous and confidential HIV testing and counseling is also available at the Department along with confidential Hepatitis B and C testing. For more information call 733-6401. PJH

Words to live by: wrap it up, kids.


PERMALINK:
The other, less lovable VD | Planet JH News Article: General Health And Fitness

Leave a Comment